legato explained
A smooth, connected style of playing or singing in which notes flow seamlessly into one another
In Depth
Legato (from the Italian legare, to bind) requires each note to sustain until the next begins, with no silence or articulation between them. On the piano, this demands careful overlapping of finger releases and attacks. On strings, it means smooth bow changes. For singers, it means seamless breath control and vowel connection. Legato is often considered the most fundamental and most difficult aspect of musical technique — the ability to create a true singing line on any instrument.
Bellini's opera melodies set the standard for vocal legato — his long, seamless phrases require extraordinary breath control and are considered the ultimate test of bel canto technique.