Basso profondo is a type of heavy, deep male singing voice encountered in opera. It is also sometimes spelled basso profundo. A bass singer with such a voice is also known as a basso profondo. The term basso profondo is Italian for “deep bass.” It refers to the low pitch of the musical line that such a singer is required to perform. A basso profondo specializes in serious, dignified, or solemn roles, such as that of a king or priest. A good example of a basso profondo role is that of Sarastro in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. The basso profondo voice also lends itself well to comedy. The German composer Richard Strauss wrote effectively for it in Der Rosenkavalier, in the comic character Baron Ochs. At one point, the baron holds a very low bottom E note for a considerable time.
