Indicating voice types?

[David Ward]

Does this mildly non-standard Fach for two of the named roles (Siduri and Utnapishtim) look potentially helpful or not?

[David Ward]

A bit of an up-date: I asked this same question on Twitter.

A composer colleague felt my fach for Siduri might have “too many contradictory definitions,” although he went on to add that “soprano fach can be very hard to pin down - every voice being wonderfully individual.” After I added a description of the role as a kind of mini-Zerbinetta, though neither so high nor so long, he said: “Sounds like a Coloratura to me then.”

However, an experienced singer (a dramatic mezzo) tweeted: “I think it’s absolutely helpful David, for both you and singer. You clearly have exactly the sound you want for the roles in your head and I think singers know their voices well enough to know if the terminology ‘fits’!”

Is this a bit OT for this forum? Or does it have some relevance to notation questions in general?

[John Ruggero]

Your descriptions seem very helpful to me as well, David.

[Schonbergian]

I think they're helpful - but I don't think any singer would take on one of these roles (or get hired for them) without someone carefully examining the music itself to see if it's suitable for them.

Either way, you may as well leave them in. More information never hurt anyone.