In the next decade, Anderson continued to pursue traditional bel canto roles, but also expanded her repertoire.

Mr. Ramey's unusual coloratura prowess netted him more bel canto roles: as one fan put it, "Nobody can sing Rossini the way he does - nobody."

This is a bel canto role, from the Italian for "beautiful song," that stresses beauty, flexibility and brilliance of performance over dramatic expression, and shows off technique and vocal athleticism.

She did, however, possess a flexible enough voice to tackle several bel canto roles by Bellini and Donizetti.

Her international career accelerated and she took on more bel canto roles - Elvira in I Puritani, Amina in La Somnambula, and Norma.

Even the English soprano Jane Eaglen - vocally, the most highly endowed Wagnerian since Birgit Nilsson - sings bel canto roles.

In recent years, she has enjoyed some success with a number of the most important bel canto roles.

She has also sung many bel canto roles.

If anything, she wants to move in the other direction, she said, and sing more bel canto roles.

She sang a wide repertoire that encompassed bel canto roles, Italian and French grand opera, verismo operas, and the German operas of Richard Wagner.