Tenor

Tenor voice range on keyboard

File:PMLP60620-Bellini - I puritani (vocal score).pdf

PMLP60620-Bellini - I puritani (vocal score)

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A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. The tenor's vocal range extends from the C one octave below middle C (C3) to the B one octave above middle C (B4) in choral music, and up to the C two octaves above middle C (C5) in solo work.

Types of Tenor

Tenors are often categorized into different subtypes based on their vocal timbre, range, and the roles they typically perform. These subtypes include:

• Lyric tenor: Known for a warm, bright, and flexible voice, suitable for roles in operas by composers like Gioachino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti.
• Dramatic tenor: Possesses a powerful, rich voice capable of dramatic expression, often found in operas by Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner.
• Heldentenor: A heroic tenor voice, characterized by a strong, powerful, and rich timbre, typically used in Wagnerian operas.
• Spinto tenor: A voice that combines the brightness and height of a lyric tenor with the power and dramatic intensity of a dramatic tenor.

Notable Tenors

Throughout history, many tenors have achieved fame for their exceptional vocal abilities and performances. Some of the most renowned tenors include:

• Enrico Caruso
• Luciano Pavarotti
• Plácido Domingo
• José Carreras
• Jonas Kaufmann

Tenor Roles in Opera

The tenor voice is often cast in leading roles in operas. Some of the most famous tenor roles include:

• Rodolfo in La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini
• Don José in Carmen by Georges Bizet
• Radamès in Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
• Siegfried in Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner

Related Pages

• Voice type
• Baritone
• Countertenor
• Bass (voice)
• List of tenors in non-classical music
• List of operatic tenors