Baritone is a masculine timbre of voice that takes a middle position between bass and tenor. The range is from the big octave (A) to the first octave (A). Baritone is divided into four types, each of them has characteristic features. They are discussed in more detail in the article.
If we talk about pure baritone, then this voice timbre is the rarest among other male voices. But if you take into account mixed types, then it is the most common.
Differences between baritone players are that they have a velvet bottom without harsh tones, as well as a soft and gentle, but without subtlety timbre.
As in any other, in this timbre of the voice there are notes that are transitional. Often they are heard from unprofessional performers. Most trained singers calmly omit them. But at the very beginning, they seem to the students an absolute evil that cannot be defeated. With practice comes skill.
Lyric Baritone
Lyrical baritone is a voice that is located between the tenor and baritone. It is necessary to make every effort to distinguish this view from a higher timbre, because the difference between them is not noticeable. Often, experts call such a voice transitional. In an unprofessional conversation, you can hear another name for this timbre - tenor baritone. The voice has a light perception. The parties that are written for this range have the highest level of tessitura.
Comparing with other types, we can say that this particular voice is the highest. In modern times, the Swiss performer Peter Mattei is called the representative of the lyrical baritone. At his speeches, it may seem that a man sings, far beyond the limits of the working range, reaching notes with mi.
Everyone who has a lyrical baritone is able to play a large number of different sounding parts. In the opera, vivid representatives of this voice are such characters as Valentin from “Faust”, Don Juan from the work of the same name, Figaro from “The Barber of Seville” and others.
Lyric and dramatic baritone
This baritone is the brightest timbre of the whole family. Sounds good enough and is perceived by listeners. It is worth noting that a singer with such a range of voices can freely play parts for both the lyrical and dramatic baritone. Moreover, the performer of the lower notes sound better than those whose voice belongs to the type described above. In some batch, falsetto is allowed.
Often in the opera, this baritone can be heard from the singer who performs Onegin from Eugene Onegin, Robert from Iolanthe, Germont from Traviad and others. If we talk about specific performers, then it is worth mentioning Alexander Voroshilo, Dietrich Fischer Diskau, Mattia Battistini, as well as Yuri Mazurka.
Dramatic baritone
Dramatic baritone is a voice that has a stronger and darker sound. It also has crackling and hard tones. It is distinguished by special power and strength. As a rule, the tessitura in the parts is at a low level, but the singers can quite rise to a high range. This happens at the climax.
In the opera, such singers play the roles of evil and insidious characters. As well as heroes who were able to save humanity and the whole world from destruction. By the way, a singer with a different type of baritone (described below) is also suitable for these roles. Bright characters with this range are Figaro from “The Wedding of Figaro”, Ruslana from “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, Igor from “Prince Igor” and others.
Which famous artist has a dramatic baritone? These include Sergey Leiferkus and Titta Ruffo. Their voices sound so bright and cunning that it is impossible to resist applause.
Bass baritone
Such a voice has a mixed type. He has the features of both bass and baritone. As a rule, for performers with such a timbre, the top and bottom sounds quite freely, but there are no profound notes. By the way, singers who have such a voice (baritone) calmly perform most parts of both types. Their performance is rich, powerful and powerful.
Among the family, this type is considered the lowest, so it is often confused with clean bass. But there are differences, and they are noticeable.
If you choose among the performers, then it is necessary to note Chaliapin ("Mephistopheles Verses") and George London ("Igor's Aria"). Their voices make standing ovation.