A Comprehensive Guide to Opera Repertoire for Mezzo-Soprano/Contralto Competitions

When preparing for an opera competition, choosing the right repertoire is crucial for making a lasting impression. A mezzo-soprano or contralto has a rich, versatile voice that can captivate audiences. However, selecting the right pieces can sometimes be daunting without guidance. This guide provides a wide selection of pieces across different composers and periods to help you choose the perfect pieces for your competition auditions. Let's dive into the repertoire!

Baroque and Early Classical

Starting with the Baroque and early Classical periods:

Monteverdi: "Addio Roma" from L'Incoronazione di Poppea Cavalli: "Ardo sospiro e piango" from La Calisto Cavalli: "Tremulo spirito" from La Didone Purcell: "When I am laid in earth" from Dido and Aeneas

Classical and Early Romantic

Transitioning into the Classical and early Romantic periods, here are some staples:

H?ndel: "Or la tromba" from Rinaldo H?ndel: "Svegliatevi nel core" from Giulio Cesare H?ndel: "Con l'ali di costanza" from Ariodante Vivaldi: "Vedrò con mio diletto" from Il Giustino Vivaldi: "Amorose ai rai del sole" from Orlando furioso

French and Italian

For a more modern and French influence, consider these pieces:

Gluck: "Che farò senza Euridice" from Orfeo ed Euridice Gluck: "Je timplore et je tremble" from Iphigénie en Tauride Mozart: "Smanie implacabili" from Cosi fan tutte Mozart: "Voi che sapete" from Le nozze di Figaro Mozart: "Parto parto" from La clemenza di Tito Donizetti: "O mio Fernando" from La Favorita Donizetti: "All'afflitto è dolce il pianto" from Roberto Devereux Donizetti: "Ah parea che per incanto" from Anna Bolena Bellini: "Sgombra è la sacra selva" from Norma Bellini: "Ah! non pensar che pieno" from Beatrice di Tenda Bellini: "Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio" from I Capuleti e i Montecchi

Nineteenth Century and Beyond

For a rich selection of Victorian and modern repertoire:

Meyerbeer: "Nobles Seigneurs salut" from Les Huguenots Meyerbeer: "Ah! mon fils" from Le Prophète Gounod: "Que fais-tu" from Roméo et Juliette Gounod: "Faites-lui mes aveux" from Faust Flotow: "Nimmermehr wird mein Herze" from Martha Berlioz: "Je vais mourir" from Les Troyens Berlioz: "Autrefois un roi de Thulé" from La Damnation de Faust Massenet: "Va! laisse couler mes larmes" from Werther Massenet: "Enfin je suis ici" from Cendrillon Bizet: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" from Carmen Bizet: "Pres des remparts" from Carmen Bizet: "En vain pour éviter" from Carmen Prince: "Printemps qui commence" from Samson et Dalila Prince: "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson et Dalila Thomas: "Connais-tu le pays" from Mignon Tchaikovsky: "Adieu forêts" from The Maid of Orleans Tchaikovsky: Lyubasha's Aria from The Tsar's Bride Offenbach: "Vois sous l'archet" from Les contes d'Hoffmann Ravel: "O! la pitoyable aventure" from L'Heure espagnole Mascagni: "Laceri miseri" from L'amico Fritz Strauss: "Wie du warst" from Der Rosenkavalier Strauss: "Sein wir wieder gut" from Ariadne auf Naxos

Twentieth and Twenty-First Century

For a diverse range of contemporary music:

Barber: "Must the winter come so soon" from Vanessa Adams: "Things change Jo" from Little Women Menotti: "I shall find for you" from The Consul Shuman: "A Prayer" from The Mighty Casey Picker: "My father left me here" from Therese Raquin Picker: "New York has changed me" from An American Tragedy Bernstein: "I am easily assimilated" from Candide Bernstein: "What a movie!" from Trouble in Tahiti Heggie: "This journey" from Dead Man Walking Pasatieri: "I am an actress" from The Seagull Pasatieri: "I sufro, yo sufro, ayer sufro" from The Seagull

Conclusion

Selecting the right pieces can make a significant difference in your competition performance. Focus on showcasing your unique voice and abilities to stand out. Do not shy away from lesser-known works as they can provide a fresh perspective to your audition. We hope this guide helps you in making an informed decision for your upcoming competition. Happy auditioning!