Bel Canto Bookshelf

Learn about the bel canto style as the masters did themselves —
by reading and writing.

bel canto bookshelf: the blog
dave ekstrum, curator

PDF Repository

  • Vaccai Higher Voice
    Lesson 1 in D
  • Vaccai High Voice
    Lesson 1 in C
  • Vaccai Low Voice
    Lesson 1 in A
  • García Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing
    in French
  • Viardot An Hour of Study
    in English
  • Mengozzi Singing Method of the Paris Conservatoire in French & German
  • Tosi Observations on the Florid Song
    in English
  • Corri The Singer’s Preceptor
  • Marchesi Theoretical and Practical Vocal Method
  • Corri A Selection of the Most Admired Songs, Duetts….
  • Crivelli Introduction and Progressive Exercises
  • Celoni Grammatica
  • Panofka Art of Singing
The Life and Deaths of maria callas

Suggested Reading

For your geeky self

For healthy mind/body connection

The Vaccai Method

Vaccai’s Metodo pratico de canto italiano per camera (first published in 1832) has been republished in numerous editions, keys, and languages.

Vaccai purposely limited the range of the voice in his lessons to afford the singer the opportunity to focus on the skills. You will find that you can sing the lessons in most published keys (and some others!) Sing it in whatever key/s you find most comfortable.

If you’d prefer a hard copy, any edition will do.