operistico

Operistico is an Italian adjective meaning relating to opera, or characteristic of opera. In musicology and criticism, the term is used to describe elements tied to the operatic genre, including repertoire, vocal technique, and performance practices that emphasize operatic conventions rather than other singing styles.

The concept encompasses several features commonly associated with opera: a focus on vocal display and virtuosic technique, a dramaturgical approach to singing and staging, and a preference for arias, ensembles, and recitatives that support dramatic storytelling. A singer described as having an operistico style is often expected to project, sustain long phrases, and negotiate intricate coloratura or intense expressive arcs suitable for opera roles.

Historically, operistico has been applied to various periods of Italian opera, from the bel canto era through later Romantic and verismo works, as well as to performances that adopt traditional operatic norms in delivery and interpretive choices. The term can describe both performers—such as an operistico tenor or soprano—and specific performances or productions that emphasize theatrical and vocal grandness typical of opera.

In English-language discourse, the more common term is operatic. Nonetheless, operistico appears in Italian-language writings, scholarly discussions of performance practice, and critiques that seek to foreground operatic conventions as distinct from concert or light-munging vocal styles.

See also: opera, operatic, bel canto, verismo, operetta.