Par VERSCHAEVE MICHEL. 'Du point de vue spectacle, l'opéra-comique français est, dans l'ensemble, une réussite, et la musique y joue un rôle souvent fort plaisant. Tout cela est vif, alerte, spirituel, habile, parfois pétillant - cela chante dans toutes les mémoires, et il n'est nul besoin de connaître le rudiment du solfège pour s'en délecter. La musique, presque uniquement mélodique, encore qu'elle soit soutenue par un orchestre à la fois léger, transparent et qui, jamais, n'accapare indiscrètement l'attention, suit l'action avec souplesse, avec esprit, avec bonne humeur.' * C'est dans les Airs sérieux et à boire, la Comédie Italienne et dans les théâtres de foires que l'Opéra-Comique confirme sa naissance, se développe et finit par s'imposer notamment grâce, à la fin du XVIIe siècle, aux foires St-Laurent et St-Germain (qui se déroulent du 3 février au dimanche de la Passion). A la fin de l'année 1714, l'Opéra autorise le nom définitif de l'Opéra-Comique composé alors du Vaudeville (à l'origine Vau de Vire) mêlé d'ariettes. C'est donc l'alternance du parlé et du chanté qui fait la spécificité de l'Opéra-Comique contrairement à l'Opéra qui est chanté de bout en bout. Il faut donc aux interprètes un solide travail d'acteur allié à des qualités vocales de plus en plus exigeantes. Le XIXe siècle produira un nombre considérable de partitions jouées des centaines de fois parmi lesquelles se distinguent notamment : La Dame Blanche (1825) de Boieldieu, Les Dragons de Villars (1856) de Maillard, Le Pré aux Clercs (1832) d'Hérold, Les Noces de Jeannette (1853) de Massé, Lalla Roukh (1862) de David ou Le Postillon de Longjumeau (1836) d'Adam. Dans notre série de recueils, nous ne manquerons évidemment pas de proposer des oeuvres antérieures et postérieures à ces dates, oeuvres particulièrement choisies pour leurs différences (au niveau des tessitures, de l'agilité, du legato, etc.). Il nous est apparu évident, lorsque c'était le cas, de laisser les textes parlés avant, pendant et après les airs, ce qui caractérise l'essence même de l'Opéra-Comique. Le but de nos recueils est avant tout de développer un répertoire incontournable de l'histoire de la musique française et de donner la possibilité aux interprètes d'épanouir au mieux leurs qualités vocales et théâtrales. / classique / Répertoire / Mezzo-Soprano et Piano ou 2 Mezzo-Soprano

The Sweet Primroses is a work by Judith Weir for Mezzo-Soprano Voice and Viola. Commissioned by the University of Birmingham for the CrossCurrents Festival 2016 the first performance was in February2016 at the University's Elgar Concert Hall. A full performance lasts around 3 minutes.  When composing this piece Weir challenged herself to write down as much as she could remember of one ofher favourite English folk songs. The Voice sings the resulting narrative while the Viola part represents the limits of memory.

A great vocal collection of ten musical theatre classics in their original keys. Includes matching CD with full performances of each song by professional artists and piano accompaniments for practice.

This unique and exciting series gives you the chance to learn some of the greatest arias of the Opera tradition with full orchestral backing tracks. 8 operatic showstoppers have been selected from works as diverse as Orfeo Et Euridice Il Trovatore and Marriage Of Figaro presented in full notation with concert accompaniments for Piano. Furthermore a professionally recorded CD is included that features the full-scale orchestral arrangement of each aria so you can experience the power and magic of a grand-scale performance. There's even a version of each featuring an established singer so you can hear the piece in full.An excellent rehearsal tool orthe ideal way to introduce your voice to the wonders and rigors of the Opera.

Mezzo-Soprano/Belter Accompaniment CDs-Mezzo-Soprano/Belter Volume Three. Two accompaniment CDs in each package which match the music book from the series. Containing a collection of songs from the musical stage categorized by voice type the selections are presented in their authentic settings excerpted from the original vocal scores.

The ultimate R&H source for singers with a unique song list for each voice type. Each volume includes an introduction about each show and plot notes for each song plus a Rodgers & Hammerstein biography.The series represents 10 musicals: Oklahoma! Carousel State Fair Allegro South Pacific The King and I Me and Juliet Cinderella Flower Drum Song and The Sound of Music.These packages include two companion CDs one featuring full performances and the other Piano accompaniments. The CDs work in all CD players but are also enhanced CD-ROMs with tempo adjustment software that will work in all PCs and Macintoshcomputers.Mezzo-Soprano edition includes: Bali Ha'i; A Cockeyed Optimist; The Gentleman Is a Dope; Honey Bun; I Cain't Say No; I Enjoy Being a Girl; In My Own Little Corner; It Might As Well Be Spring; Love Look Away; My Favorite Things; Something Wonderful; Stepsisters' Lament; Ten Minutes Ago; We Deserve Each Other; A Wonderful Guy; You'll Never Walk Alone.

Scored for solo countertenor or mezzo soprano. This work was commissioned by the Oxford Festival of Contemporary Music. First performed 11th November 1998. The texts of the six brief unaccompanied songs which comprise theSix Caprices are taken from Federico Garcia Lorca's Poema del Cante Jondo (Poems Of The Deep Song). Duration c. 8 minutes.

An Introduction to Repertoire. This series of five book/online audio access packs is an introduction to art song in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Each volume has a different song list, and includes 30 selections in appropriate keys. Beyond art song, each collection includes two carefully chosen opera arias, an oratorio aria, and an operetta aria by Gilbert

The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology - Volume 5. More great songs for theatre singers of every description from contemporary withselections from recent shows (The Drowsy Chaperone, Curtains, Grey Gardens, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, The Light in the Piazza, Spamalot, Spring Awakening, Wicked), as well as a deeper look into classic musicals. As in all previous volumes in the series, all songs are in authentic versions in the original keys,with notes about each show and song. Available with Accompaniment CDs (2 CDs per set). 40 songs per volume. HL00001152 Book HL00001163 Book/CDs HL00001158 Accompaniment CDs

Take your singing to the next level with the exciting additions to the student repertoire featured in this book and 2 x CD set.Continuing from The First Book of Solos and The First Book of Solos - Part II TheSecond Book of Mezzo-Soprano/Alto Solos contains over 30 songs that require a little more vocal range and musical sophistication but are still decidedly student material.

A collection of some of the best-loved oratorio arias newly edited and engraved by Richard Walters. Includes historical notes with information on all major works featured and line by line translation for study. Most arias are solely in Latin; those of J.S. Bach Mendelssohn and Haydn are in German with English translation.