Bel Canto: An Analysis from Birth and Background to Musical Benefaction

Since the beginning of time, singing has been celebrated. Although opera itself was not properly established until the seventeenth century, drama and music have existed since the world’s genesis. It is difficult to imagine exactly what singing would have been like in ancient times, but the Bible and other ancient documents describe singing as an important factor in community—singing is meant to be beautiful and enjoyable. As the centuries pass on, a common thread of music history is the quest for beautiful singing. Composers each try to outdo their predecessors, coming up with new ways for vocalists to shine. They even invent new ways to help instruments “sing.” With the first roots of opera planted in Italy in approximately 1600, the Italian tradition of singing achieved another milestone of beauty. As Italian opera grows and matures, the opera diva rises, and beautiful singing is even more lusted after. Bel canto, which arose in the nineteenth century, means “beautiful singing” in Italian—is this the moment that Italy finally perfects the art of beautiful singing? History suggests that it is, as the nineteenth century is often referred to as “the golden age of opera.” The Italian tradition of bel canto singing was both successful in its nineteenth century birth and in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries—its lasting impact is due to its deep historical roots, overall beauty in its structure, and modern appeal