Until the end of the 18th century, knowledge about male voices was limited to two types: bass and tenor. Only after the tenors lost their leading positions in opera, the beautiful and rich baritones gradually became the favorites of the audience and many famous composers.
Baritone character
Baritone - from Greek - heavy. It is no coincidence that the voice received such a name. Most of the baritone holders perform parts of a courageous character.
Of all the varieties of the male voice, the baritone is considered the most beautiful. Often, experts, connoisseurs and even some critics of operatic art claim that the baritone is a certain basis of the masculine principle, combining the rich gloss of a tenor and the majestic power of the bass.
The baritone received his recognition and the status of a solo voice only in the 19th century, in the era of romanticism. Previously, the baritone was part of the choral ensemble. And thanks to the famous operas by Rossini and Verdi, the baritone got the opportunity to voice roles of different nature. These are courageous heroes, and powerful monarchs, and angry offended husbands. Together with this, the baritone is entrusted with the role of the windy Don Juan and the character of the restless inventor and fidget - Figaro.
But times are changing, and morals are changing too! In our time, the tenor has regained its former glory and demand, while the baritone is considered more common and is found most often among singers.
Varieties of baritone
By the nature of the sound, like all singing voices, baritones have their own varieties:
A lyric baritone is a high, lyrical voice reminiscent of a tenor, but with a thicker sound. An example of a lyrical baritone is the famous aria of the same Figaro, performed by Muslim Magomayev.
Dramatic baritone has a stronger range of masculine voices. It is often called "baritone bass". Examples of the sound of a dramatic baritone are Escamillo from the opera Carmen, Iago from Othello, and Amonastro from Aida.
The lyric-dramatic baritone has a universal character - it can perform both lyrical and dramatic roles. There are also bass-baritone (low-note baritone) and tenor-baritone (high-note baritone). These types of baritone are intermediate.
Famous baritones
The merit of the fact that the baritone is recognized as an independent solo voice, capable of collecting sold out and making considerable fees, belongs to Tamagno and Caruso, and Adeline Patti and Titta Ruffo, who collected up to 10,000 golden lire in one concert in America. Surely many people know the famous Estonian singer-baritone Georg Ots, who played in the film "Mister X". Also, such singers as Muslim Magomayev, Joseph Kobzon, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Yuri Gulyaev, Eduard Khil, and others have a baritone of different sounds.
