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From these 26 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list The fifth entry is il coro lirico , and the adjective in it is the one word on this list that an English reader mistranslates without noticing. Lirico is the ordinary Italian adjective for opera as an institution. Il teatro lirico is the opera house, la stagione lirica is the opera season, un cantante lirico is an opera singer of any voice at all, and la lirica on its own is the art form, the thing a city either has or has not. « Lyric » in English does none of that work: it survives in the names of buildings and almost nowhere else, and the everyday word is simply « opera ». One corner does line up, and it is worth marking because it hides the rest: attached to a voice type, un tenore lirico is a lyric tenor, a weight of voice between the light and the dramatic, in both languages. The trap running the other way is sharper. The words of a song are il testo , never le liriche , which are poems — so asking a singer for le liriche of a song asks for something that does not exist.
The words
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Noun (m) (15)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
il libretto d’opera the libretto Noun (m) C2 Il libretto d’opera si legge prima di entrare in sala. The libretto is read before going into the auditorium.
il recitativo the recitative Noun (m) C2 Il recitativo porta avanti la storia tra un pezzo e l’altro. The recitative moves the story along between one set piece and the next.
il coro lirico the opera chorus Noun (m) C2 Il coro lirico canta a memoria e si muove in scena. The opera chorus sings from memory and moves about the stage.
il cambio di scena the scene change Noun (m) C2 Il cambio di scena avviene al buio, in pochi istanti. The scene change happens in the dark, in a few moments.
il maestro collaboratore the répétiteur Noun (m) C2 Il maestro collaboratore suona mentre i cantanti imparano. The répétiteur plays while the singers learn their parts.
il palcoscenico girevole the revolving stage Noun (m) C2 Il palcoscenico girevole porta via la casa e avanti il bosco. The revolving stage takes the house away and brings the wood forward.
i sopratitoli the surtitles Noun (m) C2 I sopratitoli corrono sopra il palcoscenico. The surtitles run above the stage.
il mezzosoprano the mezzo-soprano Noun (m) C2 Il mezzosoprano canta spesso la parte dell’amica. The mezzo-soprano often sings the part of the friend.
il baritono the baritone Noun (m) C2 Il baritono tiene la scena senza alzare la voce. The baritone holds the stage without raising his voice.
il passaggio di registro the register break Noun (m) C2 Il passaggio di registro si sente se non è preparato. The register break is heard when it has not been prepared.
l’appoggio del fiato the breath support Noun (m) C2 L’appoggio del fiato tiene ferma la nota lunga. Breath support holds the long note steady.
il vibrato the vibrato Noun (m) C2 Il vibrato nasce da sé quando la voce è libera. Vibrato comes of itself once the voice is free.
il belcanto the bel canto Noun (m) C2 Il belcanto chiede linee lunghe e legate. Bel canto asks for long lines, joined up.
il verismo the verismo Noun (m) C2 Il verismo porta sulla scena la vita di ogni giorno. Verismo brings everyday life onto the stage.
il finale d’atto the act finale Noun (m) C2 Il finale d’atto riunisce tutti i personaggi sul palcoscenico. The act finale brings every character together on the stage.
Noun (f) (11)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
l’aria d’opera the aria Noun (f) C2 L’aria d’opera ferma l’azione e apre il cuore del personaggio. The aria stops the action and opens up the character.
l’ouverture the overture Noun (f) C2 L’ouverture racconta l’opera prima che si alzi il sipario. The overture tells the opera before the curtain goes up.
la buca del suggeritore the prompt box Noun (f) C2 La buca del suggeritore si apre davanti al palcoscenico. The prompt box opens in front of the stage.
la graticcia the grid Noun (f) C2 Dalla graticcia scendono i fondali. The backcloths come down from the grid.
la prova costumi the costume rehearsal Noun (f) C2 Alla prova costumi si scopre che il mantello è troppo lungo. At the costume rehearsal it turns out that the cloak is too long.
la parrucca the wig Noun (f) C2 La parrucca viene cucita a mano. The wig is sewn by hand.
la chiamata per il trucco the make-up call Noun (f) C2 La chiamata per il trucco arriva molto prima dell’inizio. The make-up call comes long before the start.
la voce di basso the bass voice Noun (f) C2 La voce di basso porta le parti dei vecchi e dei re. The bass voice carries the parts of old men and of kings.
la coloratura the coloratura Noun (f) C2 La coloratura chiede agilità più che forza. Coloratura asks for agility rather than for power.
la tessitura the tessitura Noun (f) C2 La tessitura della parte pesa più della nota più alta. The tessitura of a part weighs more than its highest note.
la tradizione del teatro the house tradition Noun (f) C2 La tradizione del teatro decide certi dettagli più della partitura. The house tradition settles some details more firmly than the score.
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