How to Use bel canto in a Sentence

bel canto

noun
Definition of bel cantonext
  • The goal of bel canto is to perfect the elaborate vocal gestures all over the role: trills, scales, arpeggios and leaps.
    — James Jorden, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2017
  • Brownlee, of course, is known mostly as a tenor, a bel canto specialist whose Rossini and Donizetti thrill with a sense of ease and lightness.
    — Peter Dobrin, Philly.com, 21 Feb. 2018
  • Hard to imagine the frothy bel canto comedies of Donizetti surviving such an approach.
    — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018
  • This didn’t matter in some kinds of early music, bel canto music or French Baroque music.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 3 Oct. 2019
  • Lawrence Brownlee is celebrated for his portrayals of the princely heroes and love-smitten lords of bel canto.
    — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 20 Feb. 2018
  • Cohn’s disappearance is explained in a brief aria sung by the famous bel canto mezzo-soprano Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
    — Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2018
  • Javier Camarena continues a brilliant run of bel canto performances in New York.
    — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2018
  • Tomlinson uses the bel canto technique, with its emphasis on breath control and smooth, connected phrasing, to guide the students.
    — Jessica Gelt, latimes.com, 27 June 2018
  • The chorus is a worthy project both in education and community: Its members are schooled in traditional bel canto, and the results are impressive from so young a group.
    — Daniel Gelernter, National Review, 8 June 2019
  • Even if bel canto isn’t usually your taste, one can’t help but marvel at her extraordinary instrument.
    — Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2018
  • Bellini’s bel canto classic brings a blaze of vocal fireworks from tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano Albina Shagimuratova in the leading roles.
    — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 15 Feb. 2018
  • First performed in Milan in 1832, the opera is lauded for its humor and character development, and as an excellent representation of the bel canto tradition.
    — Lynn Trenning, charlotteobserver, 27 Mar. 2018
  • Stéphane Lissner is the opera’s director general, and—in contrast to Dupont’s fireworks—the surprisingly traditional programming and format of the opera gala largely highlight the bel canto repertoire of the 19th and early 20th century.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 14 May 2019
  • Mazzola’s repertoire includes 87 operas, said Freud, with specialties in bel canto, French, early Verdi and contemporary opera.
    — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
  • Opera diva Renée Fleming, renowned as much for the sensitivity of her characterizations as for her luscious bel canto, doesn't have to separate acting from singing in her Broadway musical debut.
    — Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 17 May 2018
  • Brownlee devoted the second half of his program to more conventional recital fare — a pair of his specialty bel canto arias, standards from the great American songbook and several spirituals, interspersed with ingratiating commentary.
    — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 23 Feb. 2018
  • Verdi invigorated the conventions of bel canto with compelling characters, refusing to compromise with what is dramatically crucial yet readily adapting to what is necessary practically to get the opera staged.
    — Mark Swed, latimes.com, 13 May 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bel canto.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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