First taste of opera

Under the title The aria in the classroom Edition Schott presents a selection volume for young singers who are at the beginning of their training and whose vocal range is still limited, who are perhaps preparing for an aptitude test at a university and want to get a taste of opera.

The collection covers different eras and styles from the beginning of the opera genre to the 20th century. All arias are represented in the original language, and are sung in Italian, English, French and German. The selection contains a wealth of mostly "small" arias outside the usual anthologies. A soprano volume, a volume for mezzo and alto and a tenor volume have been published to date, each comprising around 30 arias.

According to the rule of thumb that singing Mozart means cultivating the voice, this is mainly represented in the soprano edition, but also in the other two. In addition to Cherubino, Susanna and Zerlina, there are also less frequently heard works such as the Servilia aria from La clemenza di Tito or the Serpetta from La finta giardiniera. In addition, there are the arias of Annio, Barbarina, Pedrillo and Monostatos, characters who, in the shadow of the great opera heroes, help to determine the events on stage.

Around this group is a colorful bouquet of little-known, previously heard and indispensable pieces: Handel and Monteverdi, Verdi and Thomas, but also Vicente Martin y Soler, a Spanish composer who was called "the Mozart from Valencia" during his lifetime, or Vincenzo Righini, also a contemporary of Mozart. With Hans Werner Henze, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Kurt Weill and Carl Orff, the 20th century is also represented with perfectly singable examples.

In her selection, the editor Claudia Eder strives for stylistic, linguistic and musical variety, which should support the talented beginner in his work on breathing, virtuosity, articulation and musical expression. While she generally sticks to simple, straightforward arias, some difficult ones are also included: the scene of Yniold from Pelléas et Mélisande by Débussy, the aria of Mignon from the opera of the same name by Thomas, which interestingly appears in the soprano volume (?), and Stride la vampa by Verdi present challenges that beginners may not yet be able to master.

Die Arie im Unterricht, 32 arias from 4 centuries for tenor and piano, edited by Claudia Eder, ED 21141, € 18.99, Schott, Mainz 2014

id., 28 arias from 4 centuries for mezzo-soprano/alto and piano, ED 20897, € 17.99, 2013

id., 27 arias from 4 centuries for soprano and piano, ED 20896, € 17.99, 2012