Definition of Basso profondo
Basso profondo is the lowest bass voice type. It is often misspelled as basso profundo.
While The New Grove Dictionary of Opera defines a typical bass as having a range that extends downward to the second E below middle C (E2), operatic bassi profondi can be called on to sing low C (C2), as in the role of Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier. Often choral composers make use of lower notes, such as G1 or even F1; in such rare cases the choir relies on exceptionally deep-ranged bassi profondi termed octavists, who may sing an octave below the bass part.
Bass singer Tim Storms holds the Guinness World Record for the "lowest note produced by a human".
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Frequently asked questions
What is Basso profondo?
Basso profondo is the lowest bass voice type. It is often misspelled as basso profundo.