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Types of tenors
Tenor
From the Italian "Tenere" or "To hold", this was the vocal line in plainsong
that held the melody in medieval music. The ranges for all the following
categories is the same: two octaves, from the "C" below the (tenor) staff to the
"C" above, though in the case of singers of the bel canto Italian repertoire, an
extension up to the "D" above the staff is required.
Dramatic Tenor
This category is characterized by a brilliant, metallic cast to the voice and a
baritonal resonance throughout the range. In many cases, dramatic tenors began
their careers as baritones and trained their voices up to include tenor notes,
though never losing the richness in their lower register. In the German
repertoire, dramatic tenors are called "Heldentenors" because they take the part
of the "Helden" or "Heroes" in the Wagner music dramas, and by definition, sing
with an 'Heroic' tone. Stamina plays a huge part in the success of a dramatic
tenor, since, in the case of the Wagner works, they must be onstage for hours at
a time, often singing over heavy orchestration. Roles in which dramatic tenor
might expect to succeed are:
Florestan in FIDELIO by Wagner
Max in DER FREISCÜHTZ by von Weber
Huon in OBERON by von Weber
LOHENGRIN by Wagner
TANNHÄUSSER by Wagner
SIEGFRIED by Wagner
TRISTAN by Wagner
Manrico in IL TROVATORE by Verdi
OTELLO by Verdi
Bacchus in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS by R. Strauss
The Emperor in DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN by Strauss
Apollo in DAPHNE by Strauss
Spinto Tenor
From the Italian for 'pushed' or 'throttled', a spinto sound refers to a vibrant
quality to upper voice which is invaluable in certain Verdi and Puccini parts,
as well as the entire range of 'Verismo' roles, and adds an excitement to the
tenor voice akin to a 'quiver' in the speaking voice to convey emotion. The 2
octave range from 'C' to 'C' applies. Generally the Spinto tenor possesses a
louder than average voice, though without the steel-like timbre of the dramatic
tenor. Roles in which a Spinto Tenor might expect to succeed are:
ERNANI by Verdi
DON CARLO by Verdi
AIDA by Verdi
Canio in I PAGLIACCI by Leoncavallo
Turridu in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA by Mascagni
ANDREA CHENIER by Giordani
Loris in FEDORA by Giordani
Maurizio in ADRIANNA LECOUVREUR by Cilea
Rodolfo in LA BOHEME by Puccini
Cavaradossi in TOSCA by Puccini
Calaf in TURANDOT by Puccini
Lyric tenor
Here the category is self explanatory. A tenor voice with two octaves that sings
lyrically in general and which is seldom required to make huge sounds, or fight
an overwhelming orchestration. This is the most common tenor classification, and
encompasses roles in English, French, German and Italian. Roles in which a Lyric
Tenor might expect to succeed are:
Italian roles:
Nemorino in L'ELISIR D'AMORE by Donizetti
Alfredo in LA TRAVIATA by Verdi
Rinnucchio in GIANNI SCHICCI by Puccini
German roles:
Tamino in THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart
Steuermann in THE FLYING DUTCHMAN by Wagner
Lionel in MARTHA by Flotow
Alfred in DIE FLEDERMAUS by J. Strauss
Narraboth in SALOME by R. Strauss
French roles:
Nadir in THE PEARL FISHERS by Bizet
Romeo in ROMEO ET JULIETTE by Gounod
Gerald in LAKME by Delibes
Wilhelm in MIGNON by Thomas
Des Grieux in MANON by Massenet
Other:
Jenik in THE BARTERED BRIDE by Smetana
Sam in SUSANNAH by Floyd
Tenore di Grazia
Though not currently in use as a category, this "fach" translates easily as 'Graceful
Tenor'. Invariably, these singers possess modestly sized instruments who would
have difficulty being heard over heavy orchestration in larger houses, and who,
historically, tailored their repertoire to a handful of roles, and skillfully
trained their voices to have the maximum focus and penetrating power without
resorting to forcing the voice. Tito Schipa is perhaps the 'poster boy' for the
term tenore di grazia. Though the range for the voice remains the same two
octaves, Schipa was a bit short on top, but masked it by taking lower options or
transposing. To modern ears, the tenore di grazia may seem to be crooning,
especially when heard alongside his larger voiced colleagues, but in terms of
the elegance of phrasing and exquisite vocal control, the style of singing was
prized in its day and proves that success in opera need not depend on extremes
of volume. Roles in which a Tenore di Grazia might expect to succeed are:
Paolino in Il MATRIMONIO SEGRETO by Cimarosa
Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI by Mozart
Ernesto in DON PASQUALE by Donizetti
Lindoro in L'ITALIANA IN ALGIERI
Almaviva in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA by Rossini
Elvino in LA SONNAMBULA by Bellini
Fenton in FALSTAFF by Verdi
Iopas in LES TROYENS by Berlioz
The fool in BORIS GODUNOV by Mussorgsky
Spieltenor
From the German "Play" or "Charactertenor", this category actually comprises two
different types of singer:
The first is a singer who chooses short parts either because of vocal
limitations or due to choice, given that these short roles often involve great
acting and diction opportunities. These singers are often referred to as
'comprimario' singers, which translates literally as 'with the principals. The
2nd type of supporting singer chooses longer roles, calling for more technique.
The singer perhaps has a less than pleasing timbre to the voice which would make
a career as a leading tenor unfeasible, but which can be an asset in character
roles, or it might be a leading tenor who because of age and/or vocal problems,
elects to sing a less strenuous repertoire. Roles in which a supporting tenor
might expect to succeed are:
Comprimario roles:
Flavio in NORMA by Bellini
Arturo in LUCIA by Donizetti
Arvino in I LOMBARDI by Verdi
Gastone in LA TRAVIATA by Verdi
Borsa in RIGOLETTO by Verdi
Ruiz in IL TROVATORE by Verdi
The Messenger in AIDA by Verdi
Edmondo in MANON LESCAUT by Puccini
Spoletta in TOSCA by Puccini
Goro in MADAMA BUTTERFLY by Puccini
Character roles:
Jacquino in FIDELIO by Beethoven
Pedrillo in ABDUCTION by Mozart
Steuermann in THE FLYING DUTCHMAN by Wagner
The Shepherd in TRISTAN by Wagner
David in DIE MEISTERSINGER
Wenzel in THE BARTERED BRIDE by Smetana
Aegisth in ELEKTRA by R. Strauss
Scaramuchio in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS by R. Strauss
The Hotel Clerk in THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE by D. Moore
Little Bat in SUSANNAH by Floyd
The world-famous Tenors:
Plácido Domingo (nacido en 1941)
Enrico Caruso (1873-1921)
Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007)
Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966)
Jussi Björling (1911-1960)
Lauritz Melchior (1890)
Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
Jon Vickers (nacido en 1926)
Nicolai Gedda (nacido en 1925)
Peter Pears (1910-1986)
Tito Schipa (1880-1965)
Carlo Bergonzi (nacido en 1924)
Juan Diego Flórez (nacido en 1973)
Peter Schreier (nacido en 1935)
Franco Corelli (1921-1976)
John McCormack (1884-1945)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (nacido en 1940)
Alfredo Kraus (1927-1999)
Wolfgang Windgasssen (1914-1974)
Sergey Lemeshev (1902-1977)
Died Tenor:
Giovanni Battista Rubini (Italia, siglo XIX)
Jussi Björling (Suecia, 1911-1960)
Enrico Caruso (Italia, 1873-1921)
Franco Corelli (Italia, 1921-2003)
Miguel Fleta (España, 1897-1938)
Manuel García (España, 1775-1832)
Beniamino Gigli (Italia, 1890-1957)
Ernst Haefliger (Suiza, 1919-2007)
Peter Hoffmann
Hermann Jadlowker (Letonia, 1877-1953)
Siegfried Jerusalem
Alfredo Kraus (España, 1927-1999)
Mario Lanza (EE. UU., 1921-1959)
Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (Italia, 1892-1979)
Andrés Marín (España, 1843-1896)
Alfredo Sadel (Venezuela, 1930-1989)
Franco Corelli (Italia, 1921-2003)
Alejandro Granda Relayza (Perú, 1898 - 1962)
John McCormack (Irlanda, 1884-1945)
Mario del Mónaco (Italia, 1915-1982)
Luciano Pavarotti (Italia, 1935-2007)
Alfonso Ortiz Tirado (México, 1893-1960)
Peter Pears (Inglaterra, 1910-1986)
Anton Raaff (Alemania, 1714-1797)
Tito Schipa (Italia, 1889-1965)
Joseph Schmidt (Rumania, 1904-1942)
Léopold Simoneau (Canadá, 1916-2006)
Richard Tauber (Austria, 1891-1948)
Francesco Tamagno (Italia, 1850-1905)
Ramón Vinay (Chile, 1912-1996)
Gösta Winbergh (Suecia, 1943-2002)
Wolfgang Windgassen (Alemania, 1914-1974)
Fritz Wunderlich (Alemania, 1930-1966)
Antón Dermota (Yugoslavia, 1910 -- 1989)
Jan Kiepura (Polonia, 1902 - 1966)
Ivan Kozlovsky (Ucrania, 1900 - 1993)
Sergei Larin (Latvia, 1953 - 2008)
Sergei Lemeshev (Rusia, 1902 - 1977)
Giovanni Martinelli (Italia, 1885 - 1969)
James McCracken (Estados Unidos, 1926 - 1988)
Lauritz Melchior (Estados Unidos, 1890 - 1973)
Antonio Paolí (Puerto Rico, 1871 - 1946)
Jan Peerce (Estados Unidos, 1904 - 1984)
Helge Rosvaenge (Alemania, 1897 - 1972)
Rudolph Schock (Alemania, 1915 - 1986)
Ludwig Suthaus (Alemania, 1906 - 1971)
Ferruccio Tagliavini (Italia, 1913 - 1995)
Enrico Tamberlik (Italia, 1820 - 1889)
Georges Thill (Francia, 1897 - 1984)
Jess Thomas (Estados Unidos, 1927 - 1993)
Richard Tucker (Estados Unidos, 1913 - 1975)
Giovanni Zenatello (Italia, 1876 - 1949)
Giuseppe di Stefano (Italia, 1921)(2007)
Juan Arvizu (Mexico)
Tenors alive today:
Plácido Domingo (España, 1941)
José Carreras (España, 1946)
Carlo Bergonzi (Italia, 1924)
Nicolai Gedda (1925)
Marcelo Álvarez (Argentina, 1963)
Edgar Bastidas (Venezuela, 1969)
Juan Diego Flórez (Perú, 1973)
Roberto Alagna (Francia, 1963)
Rolando Villazón (México, 1972)
Jaume Aragall (España, 1939)
Luigi Alva (Perú, 1927)
Francisco Araiza (México, 1950)
Ramón Vargas (Mexico)
José Cura (Argentina, 1962)
Aquiles Machado (Venezuela, 1973)
Giancarlo Monsalve (Chile, 1978)
Joseph Calleja (Malta, 1978)
Ismael Jordi (España, 1973)
Fernando de la Mora (México, 1958)
Vladimir Atlantov (URSS, Rusia 1939)
Richard Leech (Estados Unidos, 1957)
Neil Shicoff (Estados Unidos, 1949)
Ramón Vargas (México, 1960)
Tito Beltrán (Chile, 1965)
Peter Schreier (Alemania, 1935)
Damien Top (Francia, 1963)
Fabio Armiliato (Italia)
Vittorio Grigolo (1968)
Ugo Benelli (Italia)
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