spinto
A lyric voice with the ability to push through heavier orchestral passages when dramatic intensity demands it
In Depth
The spinto voice sits between a lyric and a dramatic classification. The Italian word spingere means to push, and a spinto singer can open the voice for climactic moments without sacrificing the beauty of line expected in lyric singing. Spinto sopranos tackle roles like Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Aida; spinto tenors sing Cavaradossi, Don José, and Otello. The danger for spinto voices is being pushed too early into fully dramatic repertoire, which can cause vocal damage.
Maria Callas is often classified as a dramatic coloratura, but many vocal pedagogues consider her essentially a spinto soprano with extraordinary agility.