recitativo

[ res-i-tuh-tee-voh; Italian re-chee-tah-tee-vaw ]

noun

, Music.

, plural rec·i·ta·ti·vos, rec·i·ta·ti·vi [res-i-t, uh, -, tee, -vee, r, e-chee-tah-, tee, -vee],

1. recitative ².

Word History and Origins

Origin of recitativo¹

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1610–20

Example Sentences

There are many places where we need to make a connection; for me that is the recitativo.

From New York Times

What I try to achieve is less of a gap between the recitativo moments and the arias.

From New York Times

Typically at this time, the story was told by the recitativo, and the aria described the feeling.

From New York Times

But in this opera, the recitativo has so many stories, while the arias are also telling them.

From New York Times

It encourages fandom through substance, by showing us the art itself, illuminating its workings, and educating us about recitativo and coloratura.

From The New Yorker