Comprimario

A comprimario is a small supporting role in an opera^[1] (or a singer who sings those roles).^[2] The word is derived from the Italian "con primario", or "with the primary", meaning that the comprimario role (or singer) is not a principal role (or singer).^[3] The term usually refers to characters who do not sing any full-length arias or long scenes (although mute characters, who do not sing at all, are not considered comprimarios).

Many singers began their careers as comprimario singers; many others end their careers that way when they become too infirm to cope with long roles; some have made a career out of singing such parts. Among these latter are singers such as Anthony Laciura, Jean Kraft, Nico Castel, and Charles Anthony of the Metropolitan Opera; others include Plinio Clabassi and Karl Dönch.

Some notable comprimario roles

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Notable comprimario roles, in operas which are performed often, include Don Curzio, Antonio, and Barbarina in

This article about an opera or opera-related subject is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e