comprimario

American  

[kom-pruh-mair-ee-oh, -mahr-] / ˌkɒm prəˈmɛər iˌoʊ, -ˈmɑr- /

noun

plural

comprimarios

1. a singer in an opera company who ranks below the lead singers and who usually sings secondary roles.

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Etymology

Origin of comprimario

< Italian, equivalent to com- com- + primario primary

Example Sentences

His improvisations and sprinklings of Spanish into the dialogue won over the audience, and his genuine rapport with the priest portrayed by Scott Scully, perhaps the Met’s funniest comprimario, was a joy.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2023

For her Salzburg Festival debut in 2018, the director Jan Lauwers gave her full artistic freedom to dance onstage while singing the comprimario roles of Amore and Valletto in Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea.”

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2022

He has sung dozens of small comprimario parts — the character roles of opera — but also starred in Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” and Verdi’s “Falstaff.”

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2018

As a singer, Mr. Castel was a comprimario.

From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2015

Beginning his career at the old Met on Broadway and moving uptown with the company to its new home at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in 1966, Anthony was a "comprimario," or supporting singer.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2012