Teaching Prospective Verdi Baritones: A Repertoire-Based Approach

The Verdi baritone is one of the most sought-after voice types in the professional operatic sphere due to its leading presence in the Verdi repertoire. However, there exists a gap in the published scholarship about the introduction of the repertoire to younger baritones as a means of teaching the style and performance practice while still in the shelter of the post-secondary environment. This introduction to the repertoire can be a valuable tool in training potential Verdi baritones. The research goals of this monograph are threefold: 1) to establish prerequisite criteria of technical proficiency for young baritones to begin limited study of Verdi baritone repertoire, 2) to identify a selection of arias that can be studied by such a baritone, and 3) to analyze these arias from a technical perspective in order to give these baritones and their teachers insight into challenges faced in the arias and possible teaching solutions. The monograph begins with a discussion on voice-type classification in males, and the use of tessitura-based classification to determine appropriateness of the Verdi baritone repertoire for a given student. The early chapters establish the technical characteristics of the repertoire and the extent to which these characteristics are explored in the later chapters. These later chapters present technical analyses of three arias: “Sacra la scelta è d’un consorte” from Luisa Miller, “Per me giunto è il dì supremo...Io morrò, ma lieto in core” from Don Carlo, and “La sua lampada vitale...Tremate o miseri” from I masnadieri. The analyses comprise both the presentation of technical challenges faced in the aria and some possible teaching approaches to overcome these challenges. The monograph establishes that certain Verdi baritone arias can be used with advanced younger baritones, whether as a didactic tool to develop specific technical skills or in preparation for a professional career in Verdi. However, teachers need to take care to use appropriate aria selections so that healthy singing is still possible. This can be the first step towards breaking down the perception of Verdi baritone repertoire being too difficult for the advanced post-secondary student, and bring the repertoire into university studios when appropriate