Over the next 8 days, we will dive deep into the world of Bel Canto singing- on the flute.

Many great flutists, such as Marcel Moyse, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and James Galway, have described singers like Maria Callas as a major inspiration. The ability to “sing” on the flute is often considered the ultimate goal of flute playing.

This idea may not apply to every musical style, but it is certainly relevant to a large part of our repertoire. As both a technical and musical challenge, it offers enormous benefits for us as players.

So first of all: what is Bel Canto?

Bel Canto, Italian for “beautiful singing,” is a vocal style and pedagogical tradition that emphasizes a natural, effortless, and resonant tone, produced with refined technical control. It originated in Italy and flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As Merriam-Webster defines it, it is “a style of operatic singing that stresses an even, agile, and precise vocal technique.”

In the challenge, we will visit some of the most beautiful arias ever written, drawn from the golden age of Italian opera and composers such as Verdi, Bellini, and Donizetti. We will listen to some of the greatest singers on record and explore how we can imitate, as closely as possible, their diva-esque Bel Canto singing on the flute.

Goals:

• Legato phrasing
• Breath management (respiro and appoggio)
• Vocal agility
• Pure and even tone (chiaroscuro)
• Messa di voce
• Expression

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