Shattering Vocal Boundaries in Contemporary Opera: An Artist's Analysis

Abstract

Operatic writing for the voice has become more challenging over the past century. In this thesis, I will explore how the boundaries of operatic vocal writing significantly shifted to incorporate extended vocal techniques (EVTs). These dissolved boundaries are explored through an historical lens, through the voices of leading artists and through score and performance analysis. The results evince an overview of the vocal challenges presented by operatic writing between 1925 and 2020, and how artists cope with these increased vocal expectations in the preparation and execution of such repertoire. The outcome of these explorations is the creation of a musico-dramatic analysis system, serving as a didactic model for approaching these roles.