1925–30; < German, equivalent to Helden- combining form of Held hero + Tenor tenor
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her Florestan was the heldentenor Ben Heppner, at his best.
From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2017
In the small roles of the Theater Manager and Banker, Julian Close made a notable Met debut, showing a strong dark voice; Daniel Brenna, the American heldentenor, was slightly pale as Dr. Schön’s son Alwa.
From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2015
Conversely, it is very rare to hear a baritone or heldentenor on the soundtrack of a horror movie.
From The Guardian • Oct. 22, 2010
The largely German cast provided delightful diction, with Vogt looking and sounding the part of a Wagnerian heldentenor.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2010
What the opera world needs most right now is a new Wagnerian soprano or a hefty heldentenor, but that is not what the fans are looking for.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
