Dear Molly,
I assume that you are a young singer since you are preparing for a school
concert? I have to say that I'm quite confused with your selections because
each one of them is for a different type of soprano. Most are absolutely not
suitable for young voices. Also, if you are still in school - high school or
college - you should not be doing so much opera singing - what are you going
to sing when you are 40? How about some musical theatre and lieder/art
songs/folk songs? Did you consult with your teacher?
1) Lisa's aria from Pique Dame- at least big lyric soprano or more. Even
though Lisa is a young girl - the whole role requires a dark, powerful voice
rarely present in young singers. The opera is very dramatic with big
orchestral passages.
2) Czardas- Die Fledermaus- J Strauss - spinto with terrific agility! Not
suitable for young voice. Rosalinda is a mature woman - very mature. The
role requires a lot of "life experiences" to which young singers cannot
relate and therefore cannot project into the character. Also, the whole
operetta with it's sexual innuendos, word plays, and a very specific
Viennese, sparkling wit was not intended for school kids - either to sing or
to watch. In it's times it was considered quite a risqué entertainment. Of
course today we can only laugh! Yet, there is a rare opera house nowadays
that can do it any justice - even MET productions missed the mark.
3) Jewel song- Faust- Gounod - light lyric/coloratura.
4) Vissi d'arte- Tosca- Puccini - at least spinto! preferably dramatic,
absolutely not suitable for young voice. Not only the role is extremely
dramatic, but even more than Rosalinda, Tosca is a very, very mature woman.
mariella
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