1.   Downstairs, the soprano June Anderson huddled, talking operatic roles.

2.   For the first time, an African-American singer was portraying a mainstream operatic role with a major American company.

3.   He has probably sung more performances of more operatic roles over a longer period of time than any tenor in history.

4.   More to the point, he allowed, far fewer leading operatic roles are written for the bass voice than the tenor.

5.   Now, Bocelli is contemplating any number of offers, from more recordings to worldwide touring to operatic roles.

6.   One reason Bocelli is deferring definite plans about operatic roles is that he has found a new voice teacher and is waiting to see what the results will be.

7.   She has found her ideal repertory in German Lieder and in the lighter operatic roles of Mozart and Strauss, and has wisely not gone far afield.

8.   That said, Carmen is also an operatic role for a mezzo-soprano, and the strictly vocal component of her performance was not consistently satisfying.

9.   As well as singing important operatic roles with the Dutch Opera, Van Limpt often performed in the United States, particularly in San Diego, Kragten said.