Fach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The German Fach (pl. Fächer) (IPA pronunciations: [fɑ:x], ['fɛ.çəɐ]) system is a method of classifying singers, primarily opera singers, by the range, weight, and color of their voices. It is primarily used in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries and in repertory opera houses.

The Fach system is a convenience for singers and opera houses. A singer who is identified as being of a certain Fach will usually be asked to sing only roles that belong to that Fach. This prevents a singer from being asked to sing roles which he or she is incapable of performing. Opera houses keep lists of available singers by Fach so that when they are casting roles for an upcoming production, they do not inadvertently contact performers who would be inappropriate for the part.

Below is a list of Fächer, their ranges as written on sheet music, and their common roles. When two names for the Fach are given, the first is in more common use today. Where possible, an English equivalent of each Fach is listed, however not all Fächer have ready English equivalents. Note that some roles can be sung by more than one Fach and that many singers do not easily fit into a fach: for instance some sopranos may sing both Koloratursopran and Dramatischer Koloratursopran roles. In addition, roles traditionally more difficult to cast may be given to a voice other than the traditional fach. For instance, the Queen of the Night is more traditionally a dramatic coloratura role, but it is difficult to find enough dramatic coloraturas to sing it (particularly given the extreme range). Therefore, the role is often sung by Lyric Coloraturas.

Contents

  • English equivalent: Dramatic coloratura soprano
  • Range: From middle C to the F two-and-a-half octaves above middle C
  • Description: The same as above, only with a more dramatic, rich voice. Can often be more lyrical, and heavier than a coloratura soprano. Must also be able to do fast vocal acrobatics and reach high notes, such as the F6 of the Queen of the Night. Some of the best examples for this voice type are Dame Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas and June Anderson. This is a very rare vocal Fach, seeing it needs thick vocal cords to produce the large, dramatic notes needed, which usually lessens the flexibility and acrobatic abilities of the voice.
  • Roles:
  • Singers

  • English equivalent: Soubrette
  • Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
  • Description: a light, pretty voice
  • Roles: Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Musette in La Bohème (Giacomo Puccini)

  • English equivalent: Lyric soprano
  • Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
  • Description: a more supple-sounding soprano, capable of legato, portamento, and some agility; generally has a more soulful and sensuous quality than a soubrette who tend to be largely flirtatious and somewhat tweety.
  • Roles:

  • English equivalent: Light dramatic soprano
  • Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
  • Description: The Italian version of this fach is the spinto, which literally means pushed. Thus, a light dramatic soprano must generally push her basically lyric instrument to create big sounds that can cut through an orchestral and/or choral climax. Depending on the singer, however, this voice type can be more versatile, as it lies at neither extreme of the soprano spectrum. Spintos are occasionally able to take on lighter mezzo roles, or conversely, lyric and even coloratura roles. Spinto sopranos are known to be especially well suited to art song and operas in English.
  • Roles:
  • Singers:

  • English equivalent: Wagnerian soprano
  • Range: From the F below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
  • Description: A voice equal to the demands of the operas of Wagner's maturity, substantial, very powerful and even throughout the registers. Successful hochdramatischer are rare, only one or two appear in a generation. Arguably there are none singing today.

  • English equivalent: Coloratura mezzo-soprano
  • Range: From the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
  • Description: a lyric soprano's instrument in a lower range; the resulting sound is less piercing, more lachrymose and kind of sensitive
  • Roles: Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioacchino Rossini)

Angelina in La Cenerentola (Gioacchino Rossini)

  • English equivalent: Dramatic mezzo-soprano
  • Range: From the G below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C
  • Description: The dramatic mezzo possesses a large voice capable of creating penetrating yet full-bodied projection. Dramatic mezzos must perform alongside dramatic sopranos, and so their voices must be able to carry effectively despite singing in a lower tessitura. They are well-suited to composers who use densely textured orchestration like Beethoven, Wagner, and Strauss. The dramatic mezzo, however stunning in the opera house, is often felt to be too overwhelming for lied and other art songs.
  • Roles:
  • Singers

  • English equivalent: Contralto
  • Range: From the G below middle C to the B above middle C
  • Description:
  • Roles: Erda in Der Ring des Nibelungen (Richard Wagner)

  • English equivalent: (Lyric) comic tenor. It is quite possible for a young Spieltenor to eventually work into the lighter Lyrischertenor category, the deciding factor will be the beauty of voice and his looks.
  • Range: From low C to the B an octave above middle C (C to b')
  • Description:
  • Roles: Pedrillo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

  • English equivalent: Character tenor. Must have good acting abilities.
  • Range: From the B below low C to the C an octave above middle C (C to c')
  • Description:
  • Roles: Mime (Siegfried) (Richard Wagner)
  • Singers:

  • English equivalent: Verdi Baritone.
  • Range: From the A below low C to the G# above middle C (A to g#')
  • Description: A voice particlarly effective with passages in its higher reaches. A high tessitura vis-a-vis the range extremes.
  • Roles: Wozzeck (Berg)

Germont (Verdi)

  • Singers:

  • English equivalent: None.
  • Range: From the G below low C to the F# above middle C (G to f#')
  • Description: Means ‘heroic baritone’. In the German opera houses a true Heldenbariton is a prize possession: a singer with exciting power at command and a brightly resonant quality.
  • Roles:
  • Examples:

  • English equivalent: Lyric comic bass
  • Range: From the E half an octave below low C to the F above middle C (E to f')
  • Description: A comedic role within certain operas performed by a lyrical voice.
  • Roles:
  • Singers:

  • English equivalent: Dramatic comic bass
  • Range: From the C one octave below low C to the F above middle C (C to f')
  • Description:
  • Roles: Baculus, Der Wildschütz (Albert Lortzing)

  1. ^ a b John Warrack; Ewan West (1992). The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-869164-5. 
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../f/a/c/Fach.html"
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.