Carry the Voice: Breathing Life into Bel Canto
Reflections from James — Day One of “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Bel Canto Reimagined”
There’s a moment in every singer’s journey when breath stops being just air — and becomes energy, sound and emotion.
That moment arrived early last Sunday at the Royal Academy of Music. Together, we explored the timeless Italian principles of sostegno (sustained breath energy), appoggio (leaning on the breath), and the lotta vocale — that noble struggle through which airflow becomes vocal artistry.
Each session began with discussion — what these concepts mean in practice and how they align with our modern understanding of healthy voice function and technique. We moved quickly from theory to experiencing, working through targeted breath and portamento exercises before moving into applying these concepts in the repertoire. Watching singers embody these ideas — translating sensation into sound — was deeply rewarding. The singers found that delicate balance between airflow consistency and diaphragmatic release that creates the perfect breath pressure balanced for the task at hand. In those moments, breath, vibration, and resonance became one continuous gesture — alive and free.
We heard from four singers during the afternoon, and were joined by tenor Ben Johnson, whose insight and artistry helped deepen our exploration of legato and expressive phrasing. Hearing each voice take flight in its own way — yet all connected by the same spinning tone — reminded me why this tradition endures.
By the end of the day, the feedback was heart-warming. Several participants have reached out to say how much they enjoyed the experience and that they’ll definitely be joining future sessions. It felt like the beginning of a community rediscovering something vital together.
Each day in the Standing on the Shoulders of Giants series builds on the last — exploring how bel canto principles translate into 21st-century artistry:
- Day 2 — Light and Dark Together: Chiaroscuro, Timbres & Registration
- Day 3 — The Singing Word: Vowels as the Soul of Tone
- Day 4 — Clarity Without Compromise: Consonants as Ornaments
- Day 5 — Bel Canto’s Living Laboratory: Exercises for the 21st Century
Join us for the remaining four course days at the Royal Academy of Music.
Our next session, Day 2 — Light and Dark Together: Chiaroscuro, Timbres and Registration, takes place on 23 November.
🎶 Book Remaining Bel Canto Reimagined Days →
If you’d like to work more deeply on this material with me, you can book a one-to-one session here:
