arioso
/ˌɑriˈoʊsoʊ/
noun
- A style of vocal music that is between an aria and a recitative, with a flowing melody but less structured than a full aria.
- The composer wrote a beautiful arioso for the soprano in the second act.
- In the opera, the character's lament was delivered as an arioso, blending speech and song.
- The music teacher explained how an arioso differs from a recitative by having more melodic shape.
adjective
- Describing a vocal passage that is melodic and expressive, similar to an aria but less formal.
- The arioso section of the piece gave the singer a chance to show her emotional range.
- The choir performed the arioso lines with gentle phrasing.
- He preferred the arioso style for its natural, speech-like flow.