C2 · 26 words
Opera and singing in German
Score, pit and voice — the words spoken behind the curtain.
Practise this list
From these 26 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Before a performance a singer singt sich ein, and the small word sich is what turns the verb into a warm-up. With the reflexive pronoun, the separable prefix ein- describes doing an activity until you are ready for it: sich einsingen for the voice, and sich einspielen for an orchestra loosening up before the first downbeat. Drop the pronoun and the verb takes an object and means something else: ein Lied einsingen is to record a song in the studio. So the question to put to any sentence is whether the singer is doing something to herself or to a piece of music. Either way the prefix splits off in the present, sie singt sich ein, and in the perfect ge slips between prefix and stem while the auxiliary stays haben: sie hat sich eingesungen. The rest of the list belongs to the score, the pit and the stage door.
The words
Verb (4)
sich einsingento warm up (the voice)VerbC2
Separable and reflexive; irregular: singt sich ein, sang sich ein, hat sich eingesungen. Without sich: ein Lied einsingen, to record it.
markierento mark (sing at half voice in rehearsal)VerbC2
Everyday meaning: to mark, to highlight. Here used on its own or with the passage as object: die Arie markieren.
forcierento force (the voice)VerbC2
Outside music: to step up, to push ahead with — den Ausbau forcieren.
knödelnto sing with a throaty, swallowed toneVerbC2
Disparaging. From der Knödel, a dumpling: the sound seems stuck in the throat.
Noun (21)
Grammar for these: The three genders · The plural
die Partiturfull scoreNounC1
Plural: die Partituren.
der Klavierauszugvocal score (piano reduction)NounC2
Plural: die Klavierauszüge.
der Orchestergrabenorchestra pitNounC1
Plural: die Orchestergräben. In the trade often just der Graben.
der Kapellmeisterstaff conductor (of an opera house)NounC2
Plural: die Kapellmeister. In an opera house a rank below the Generalmusikdirektor.
der Generalmusikdirektorgeneral music directorNounC2
Plural: die Generalmusikdirektoren. Usually shortened to GMD.
das Stimmfachvoice category, FachNounC2
Plural: die Stimmfächer. In the trade often just das Fach.
der Heldentenorheroic tenor, HeldentenorNounC2
Plural: die Heldentenöre.
die SoubrettesoubretteNounC2
Plural: die Soubretten.
der KammersängerKammersänger (honorary title for a singer)NounC2
An honorary title, not a singer of chamber music. Plural unchanged; feminine: die Kammersängerin.
die Kopfstimmehead voiceNounC1
Usually singular. The counterpart is die Bruststimme.
der Registerwechselchange of register, passaggioNounC2
Plural: die Registerwechsel.
die KoloraturcoloraturaNounC2
Plural: die Koloraturen.
das RezitativrecitativeNounC2
Plural: die Rezitative.
die ArieariaNounC1
Plural: die Arien, with three syllables: A-ri-en.
das SingspielSingspiel (opera with spoken dialogue)NounC2
Plural: die Singspiele. Die Zauberflöte is the best-known one.
die SitzprobeSitzprobe (seated rehearsal with the orchestra)NounC2
Plural: die Sitzproben.
die Hosenrolletrouser roleNounC2
Plural: die Hosenrollen. A young man sung by a woman, usually a mezzo.
der Buhrufboo (a shout of disapproval)NounC1
Plural: die Buhrufe. The verb is buhen.
das Vorsingenaudition (for singers)NounC1
Plural rare. Actors have das Vorsprechen, instrumentalists das Vorspielen.
das Timbretimbre, tone colourNounC2
Pronounced as in French. Plural: die Timbres.
das Regietheaterdirector’s theatre (concept-led staging)NounC2
No plural. Often used as a reproach.
Phrase (1)
vom Blatt singento sight-singPhraseC1
Instrumentalists say vom Blatt spielen.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Art, culture and festivals — 31 lists and 1 151 words that can also be practised as a whole.