Singing Guide: The Mikado
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Mikado is a comedic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan that premiered in 1885. The lead character, Nanki-Poo, is a tenor who sings several memorable pieces throughout the opera. To learn how to sing like Nanki-Poo, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Firstly, work on improving your pitch accuracy. The Pitch accuracy test on Singing Carrots can help with this. Nanki-Poo sings many high notes, so it's important to develop your upper register using exercises from the Pitch Training tool.
- Another important skill is breath control. Singing Carrots has many resources available to help you improve this, such as the Farinelli Breathing exercise video, Breath Support article, and Respiration article.
- Nanki-Poo also has several moments where he uses vibrato, which can be tricky to master. Check out the Singing with Vibrato article and the Beggars Bounce and Diaphragm Bounce videos to get started.
- Finally, focus on finding your authentic voice while maintaining proper articulation and enunciation. Articles like How to find your own authentic voice and Articulation can help with this.
To showcase Nanki-Poo's unique vocal technique, try singing "A wandering minstrel, I" and "The flowers that bloom in the spring." These songs highlight the tenor range and playful style of The Mikado. You can also use Singing Carrots' song search tool to find additional songs that match your vocal range and skill level.
With these resources and tips, you'll be on your way to singing like Nanki-Poo in no time!