Fach

The German Fach (pl. Fächer) system is a method of classifying singers, primarily opera singers, by the range, weight, and color of their voices. It is primarily used in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries and in repertory opera houses.

The Fach system is a convenience for singers and opera houses. A singer who is identified as being of a certain Fach will usually be asked to sing only roles that belong to that Fach. This prevents a singer from being asked to sing roles which he or she is incapable of performing. Opera houses keep lists of available singers by Fach so that when they are casting roles for an upcoming production, they do not inadvertently contact performers who would be inappropriate for the part.

Below is a list of Fächer, their ranges as written on sheet music, and their common roles. When two names for the Fach are given, the first is in more common use today. Where possible, an English equivalent of each Fach is listed, however not all Fächer have ready English equivalents. Note that some roles can be sung by more than one Fach.

Todo: List of roles and English equivalents

Contents

1 Soprano Fächer 1.1 Deutsche Soubrette 1.2 Koloratursopran / Koloratur Soubrette 1.3 Dramatische Koloratursopran 1.4 Lyrischer Sopran 1.5 Jugendlich Dramatischer Sopran 1.6 Charaktersopran 1.7 Dramatischersopran 1.8 Hochdramatischersopran 2 Mezzo-soprano Fächer 2.1 Lyrischer Mezzosopran / Spielalt 2.2 Dramatischer Mezzosopran 2.3 Dramatischer Alt 2.4 Tiefer Alt 3 Tenor Fächer 3.1 Spieltenor 3.2 Lyrischertenor 3.3 Characktertenor 3.4 Jugendlicher Heldentenor 3.5 Heldentenor / Tenorbariton 4 Baritone Fächer 4.1 Lyrischer Bariton / Lyric Baritone 4.2 Charakterbariton 4.3 Cavalierbariton / Dramatic Baritone 4.4 Heldenbariton / Hoherbass 5 Bass Fächer 5.1 Spielbaß / Baßbuffo 5.2 Schwerer Spielbaß 5.3 Charakterbaß / Baßbariton 5.4 Serioserbaß / Schwarzerbaß 6 External links

Soprano Fächer

Deutsche Soubrette

• English equivalent:
• Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Koloratursopran / Koloratur Soubrette

• English equivalent: Coloratura soprano
• Range: From middle C to the F two-and-a-half octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Dramatische Koloratursopran

• English equivalent: Dramatic coloratura soprano
• Range: From middle C to the F two-and-a-half octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:
  • The Queen of the Night, Die Zauberflöte

Lyrischer Sopran

• English equivalent: Lyric soprano
• Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Jugendlich Dramatischer Sopran

• English equivalent:
• Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Charaktersopran

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the B below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Dramatischersopran

• English equivalent: Dramatic soprano
• Range: From the B below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:
  • Leonore, Fidelio
  • Elsa, Lohengrin

Hochdramatischersopran

• English equivalent: Wagnerian soprano
• Range: From the F below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C
• Roles:
  • Turandot, Turandot
  • Leonore, Fidelio
  • Brunnhilde, Der Ring des Nibelungen
  • Isolde, Tristan und Isolde
  • Elektra, Elektra

Mezzo-soprano Fächer

Lyrischer Mezzosopran / Spielalt

• English equivalent: Lyric mezzo-soprano
• Range: From the G below middle C to the B above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Dramatischer Mezzosopran

• English equivalent: Dramatic mezzo-soprano
• Range: From the G below middle C to the B above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Dramatischer Alt

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the G below middle C to the B above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Tiefer Alt

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the F below middle C to the A above middle C
• Description:
• Roles:

Tenor Fächer

Spieltenor

• English equivalent:
• Range: From middle C to the B two octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Lyrischertenor

• English equivalent: Lyric tenor
• Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Characktertenor

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the B below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Jugendlicher Heldentenor

• English equivalent: Dramatic tenor
• Range: From middle C to the C two octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:
  • Walther von Stolzing, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
  • Lohengrin, Lohengrin
  • Parsifal, Parsifal

Heldentenor / Tenorbariton

• English equivalent: Heroic or dramatic tenor
• Range: From the B below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:
  • Calaf, Turandot
  • Siegfried, Der Ring des Nibelungen
  • Tristan, Tristan und Isolde

Baritone Fächer

Lyrischer Bariton / Lyric Baritone

• English equivalent: Lyric baritone
• Range: From the B below middle C to the G one-and-a-half octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description: A sweeter, milder sounding baritone voice, lacking in harshness.
• Roles:
  • Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro
  • Marcello, La Boheme

Charakterbariton

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the A below middle C to the G# one-and-a-half octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Cavalierbariton / Dramatic Baritone

• English equivalent: Dramatic or Verdi baritone
• Range: From the A below middle C to the G# one-and-a-half octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description: Harsher, more aggressive and pronounced than the Lyric baritone.
• Roles:
  • Tonio, I Pagliacci
  • Rigoletto, Rigoletto
  • Iago, Otello
  • Scarpia, La Tosca

Heldenbariton / Hoherbass

• English equivalent: Dramatic or heroic baritone
• Range: From the G below middle C to the F# one-and-a-half octaves above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Bass Fächer

Spielbaß / Baßbuffo

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the E one-and-a-half octaves below middle C to the F above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Schwerer Spielbaß

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the C two octaves below middle C to the F above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Charakterbaß / Baßbariton

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the E one-and-a-half octaves below middle C to the F above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:

Serioserbaß / Schwarzerbaß

• English equivalent:
• Range: From the C two octaves below middle C to the F above middle C (sung one octave lower)
• Description:
• Roles:
  • Sarastro, Die Zauberflöte
  • König Marke, Tristan und Isolde

External links

• Fach list at Tenorland
• The Fach System at SUOpera