bel canto
noun
bel can·to
bel-ˈkän-(ˌ)tō 
-ˈkan-
-ˈkan-
: a style of operatic singing originating in Italy and flourishing in the 18th and early 19th centuries that stresses an even, agile, and precise vocal technique
Examples of bel canto in a Sentence
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Meanwhile, the Allegro molto vivace coasted along serenely, Black’s bel canto phrasing and pristine intonation never betraying its finger-flying briskness.
—
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Blackburn delivered a frothy Valse by the French composer Benjamin Godard, its waltz gussied up in runs and curlicues worthy of a bel canto opera.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 17 July 2023
Galás’ meticulously disciplined singing draws from jazz, blues, country, gospel hymns, German cabaret, traditional Greek music, operatic bel canto singing and more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
The buoyant conducting of Enrique Mazzola, the company’s music director, demonstrated his profound understanding of the opera’s bel canto roots, and Louisa Muller, the director, embraced the absurdities of the plot and managed to make its conflicting debts of honor plausible.
—Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2022
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Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Blackburn delivered a frothy Valse by the French composer Benjamin Godard, its waltz gussied up in runs and curlicues worthy of a bel canto opera.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 17 July 2023
Galás’ meticulously disciplined singing draws from jazz, blues, country, gospel hymns, German cabaret, traditional Greek music, operatic bel canto singing and more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
The buoyant conducting of Enrique Mazzola, the company’s music director, demonstrated his profound understanding of the opera’s bel canto roots, and Louisa Muller, the director, embraced the absurdities of the plot and managed to make its conflicting debts of honor plausible.
—Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bel canto
Cite this Entry
“Bel canto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bel%20canto. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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