The meaning of the term bel canto as it relates to opera in theory and practice has become skewed through casual, idiosyncratic use, rendering it impractical, similar to the use of the word ‘song’ which, taken up by iTunes and YouTube, in modern parlance has come to refer to any musical work, regardless of genre. This article aims to clear the term of anecdotal impedimenta and restore to it its original meaning, which is to distinguish a particular discipline of voice training with a particular set of results from other disciplines where the same results do not necessarily apply. The iconic soprano Maria Callas is credited here as having distilled the meaning of the term bel canto to its purest form. It is, however, primarily the work of Australians Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge that most effectively shows the impact of the discipline of bel canto and, more importantly, the traditions and performance practice that developed from its application. It is through their work that modern operatic performance came as close as it ever did to the ‘authenticity’ of the period when the composers associated with the discipline of bel canto created operas for singers who were trained according to that discipline. This study traces a celebrated performer’s notion of what bel canto means, and how it was instrumental in helping her achieve what she believed to be her destiny. The article considers also how this knowledge applies to today’s voice student and performer.

中文翻译：

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Bel Canto：歌剧魅影

“美声唱法”一词在理论和实践上与歌剧有关，其含义已因随意，特有的使用而变得歪曲，使其变得不切实际，类似于iTunes和YouTube在现代中使用的“歌曲”一词。不论流派如何，用语都指任何音乐作品。本文旨在清除“传声障碍”一词，并恢复其原始含义，这是将具有特定结果集的特定语音训练学科与未必适用相同结果的其他学科区分开。标志性的女高音玛丽亚·卡拉斯（Maria Callas）在这里被认为是将美声唱法的含义提炼为最纯净的形式。但是，主要是澳大利亚人Joan Sutherland和Richard Bonynge的工作，最有效地显示了美声唱法纪律的影响，更重要的是，显示了应用美声唱法的传统和表演实践。正是通过他们的工作，现代歌剧表演已接近“真实性”时期，当时与bel canto学科相关的作曲家为根据该学科训练的歌手创作了歌剧。这项研究追溯了著名表演者关于美声唱法意味着什么的观念，以及它如何帮助她实现自己认为自己的命运。本文还考虑了这些知识如何应用于当今的语音学生和表演者。从其应用发展而来的传统和表演实践。正是通过他们的工作，现代歌剧表演已接近“真实性”时期，当时与bel canto学科相关的作曲家为根据该学科训练的歌手创作了歌剧。这项研究追溯了著名表演者关于美声唱法意味着什么的观念，以及它如何帮助她实现自己认为自己的命运。本文还考虑了这些知识如何应用于当今的语音学生和表演者。从其应用发展而来的传统和表演实践。正是通过他们的工作，现代歌剧表演已接近“真实性”时期，当时与bel canto学科相关的作曲家为根据该学科训练的歌手创作了歌剧。这项研究追溯了著名表演者关于美声唱法意味着什么的观念，以及它如何帮助她实现自己认为自己的命运。本文还考虑了这些知识如何应用于当今的语音学生和表演者。这项研究追溯了著名表演者关于美声唱法意味着什么的观念，以及它如何帮助她实现自己认为自己的命运。本文还考虑了这些知识如何应用于当今的语音学生和表演者。这项研究追溯了著名表演者关于美声唱法意味着什么的观念，以及它如何帮助她实现自己认为自己的命运。本文还考虑了这些知识如何应用于当今的语音学生和表演者。