Lesson plan
Comprimario
A comprimario is a small supporting role in an opera (or a singer who sings those roles). 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). 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 Piero de Palma, Anthony Laciura, Jean Kraft, Nico Castel, and Charles Anthony of the Metropolitan Opera; others include Plinio Clabassi, Ernesto Gavazzi and Karl Dönch.
Article summary
A comprimario is a small supporting role in an opera (or a singer who sings those roles). 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). 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 Piero de Palma, Anthony Laciura, Jean Kraft, Nico Castel, and Charles Anthony of the Metropolitan Opera; others include Plinio Clabassi, Ernesto Gavazzi and Karl Dönch.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.