Glossary

.B.

Breeches roles

In opera, the so-called "breeches roles" refer to the transvestite roles of male characters performed by female singers - or castras before the 19th century, before they were gradually replaced by countertenors and sopranists.

The "breeches roles" sung by women (often mezzo-sopranos) were generally written to represent young men. These include Chérubin in Les Noces de Figaro, Stéphano in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, Prince Charmant in Massenet's Cendrillon and Octavian in Le Chevalier à la rose. The roles of young boys are often also "breeches roles", such as Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. The high-pitched voice symbolises the character's youth.