Bass-baritone

A bass-baritone is a singing voice that shares certain qualities of both the baritone and the bass. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing Wagnerian bass roles like Wotan (in the Ring Cycle) and Hans Sachs (in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). Wagner wrote those roles for what he called Hoher Bass ("high bass").

Related Topics:
Baritone - Bass - Ring Cycle - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

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The bass-baritone voice is distinguished by two attributes. First, it must have an effective upper range to at least F# above middle C and be capable of singing comfortably in a baritonal tessitura. It must also, however, have the resonant lower range typically associated with the bass. For example, the role of Wotan in Die Walküre covers the range from the F# above middle C to the F below the bass clef but only infrequently descends beyond the C below middle C.

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Although the Wagnerian roles are most associated with the bass-baritone, there are a number of others that are probably appropriate for such a voice. The title character of Don Giovanni, by Mozart, and Don Basilio, in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, are well-known examples.

Related Topics:
Don Giovanni - Il Barbiere di Siviglia

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The term is also used to refer to a singer who possesses such a singing voice.

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