Congruent Ideologies of the Bel Canto Pedagogues

Garcia II wrote in his introduction to A Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing, “Voices in their natural states are nearly always unpolished, unequal, unsteady, even tremulous, and, finally, heavy and of short range; only study, but a well-informed and persistent study, can make firm the intonation, purify the timbres, perfect the intensity and the elasticity of the tone.” In the same era, G.B. Lamperti lamented, “It is a pity that young singers, who are studying voice, immediately sing songs and arias, literally before they know how to open their mouths, instead of earnestly studying the real support of the voice (the mechanism of breath) in order to develop the voice and to make it smooth and flexible.”

One could readily assume through these similar statements that Manuel Garcia II and G.B. Lamperti were most often in agreement regarding vocal pedagogy and instruction. A short study of the two influential pedagogues, however, quickly reveals major disparities between these two schools of Bel Canto pedagogy. In spite of their passionate disagreements, the pedagogues of this era share the fundamental techniques and methodologies necessary to master the repertoire of the Bel Canto era properly. This presentation and discussion highlights the qualities held in common between the major pedagogues of the era, including elements of alignment, inspiration, vowel purity, legato, and pedagogic progression from exercises to repertoire.

🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available