Musical Theatre Songs Appropriate
for "Legit" (Classically-Trained) Voices
The songs in this listing were written for or commonly associated with singers who had/have "legitimate" voices. More famous examples of such singers include Jeanette MacDonald, Jan Clayton, Alfred Drake, Barbara Cook, Gordon McCrae, Howard Keel, John Raitt, Richard Kiley, et al. More recent examples include Rebecca Luker, Audra McDonald, John Cullum, Jerry Orbach, Anthony Warlow, and Brian Stokes-Mitchell. Other "legit" singers - e.g., Todd Duncan, Nelson Eddy, Ezio Pinza, John McCurdy, Robert Rounseville - had successful operatic and/or operetta careers in addition to, or before, working in musical theatre.
This listing does not include songs for or commonly associated with "belters" (e.g., Ethel Merman, Gwen Verdon, Liza Minelli, Patti Lupone), falsettists (e.g., Mandy Patinkin, Michael Crawford), "sprechstimme" performers (e.g., Rex Harrison, Yul Brynner, Richard Burton, etc.), or any other non-"legit" voice types (e.g., Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Robert Preston, Zero Mostel, Angela Lansbury, Mandy Patinkin, Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball).
In a few rare cases, the same singer may use both "legit" and "belt" techniques in their career, or even in a single role. The most noteworthy example was Joan Diener, the original Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Any songs written for/associated with these multi-technique singers are those which they sang using their "legit" techniques.
In short, the songs on this list should sound appropriate when sung by a classically-trained singer using a "relaxed" bel canto technique. In all cases, these are solos that can be performed effectively without accompanying chorus, ensemble, or duet partner, even if originally scored to be sung with such § solos that will not work "extracted" from their original scoring (e.g., "I am easily assimilated" from Candide) are not included here. Nor are songs from musicals not in English (an arbitrary exclusion, I admit, but my prerogative).
Soprano
Harold Arlen, House of Flowers
Violet: A sleepin' bee § I never has seen snow
Leonard Bernstein, Candide
Cunegonde: Glitter and be gay
Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story
Maria: I Feel Pretty § I Have a Love
A Girl: Somewhere
Leonard Bernstein, Wonderful Town
Eileen: A Little Bit in Love
Rick Besoyan, Little Mary Sunshine
Mary: Coo coo
Madame Ernestine von Liebedich: In Izzenschnooken on the Lovely Essenzook Zee
Georges Bizet, Carmen Jones
Cindy Lou: My Joe
Jerry Bock, Fiddler on the Roof
Hodel*: Far from the home I love
Jerry Bock, Fiorello
Thea: Till tomorrow § When did I fall in love?
Jerry Bock, She Loves Me
Amalia Balash: No more candy § Will he like me? § Dear friend § Ice cream
Cy Coleman, Barnum
Jenny Lind: Love makes such fools of us all
Cy Coleman, On the Twentieth Century
Lily Garland: Babette § The Indian Maiden's Lament
Sammy Fain, Flahooley
Najla: Najla's lament § Birds/Enchantment
Sandy: Come back little genie
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
Sarah: Your Daddy's Son § President
Harold Fraser-Simon, Maid of the Mountains
Sarah: Love will find a way
Teresa: My life is love
Ricky Ian Gordon, My Life with Albertine
Albertine: Is it too late? § My soul weeps § If it is true
Ron Grainer, Robert and Elizabeth
Elizabeth Barrett: The World Outside § The Real Thing § Soliloquy § Woman and Man
Albert Hague, Plain and Fancy
Katie Yoder: It wonders me § Young and foolish (reprise)
Hilda Miller: This is all very new to me § I'll show him
Jerry Herman, A Day in Hollywood
Peggy: Nelson
Jerry Herman, Milk and Honey
Ruth*: That Was Yesterday
Rupert Holmes, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Rosa Bud: Moonfall
Jerome Kern, The Cat and the Fiddle
Shirley Sheridan: Try to forget § She wanted to stay, but thought she should go § You're for me
Jerome Kern, Show Boat
Julie*: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man § Bill
Michael John La Chiusa, Marie Christine
Marie Christine L'Adrese: Beautiful § I will love you
Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls
Sarah Brown: I'll Know (When my Love Comes Along) § If I Were a Bell
Frank Loesser, The Most Happy Fella
Rosabella: Wanting to be wanted...Somebody somewhere § Such friendly faces...Aren't You Glad § Where's that smile?...Warm all over § Please let me tell you
Marie: Long Ago
Frederick Loewe, Brigadoon
Fiona: Waitin' for my dearie
Frederick Loewe, Camelot
Guinevere: The Simple Joys of Maidenhood § The Lusty Month of May § I Loved You Once in Silence § Before I Gaze at You Again
Nimuë: Follow Me
Frederick Loewe, My Fair Lady
Eliza Doolittle: Wouldn't it be loverly? § Just you wait, 'Enry 'Iggins § I could have danced all night § Show me §
Frederick Loewe, Paint Your Wagon
Jennifer Rumson: What's Going On? § How Can I Wait? § All for Him
Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Phantom of the Opera
Christine: Think of Me § Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Carlotta: Think of Me § Poor fool, he makes me laugh
Bob Merrill, Carnival
Lili: A Very Nice Man § Mira § Love Makes the World Go 'Round
Lionel Monckton, The Arcadians
Sombra: The Pipes of Pan § Arcady is ever young § My heart flies homing (Valse-Song)
Lionel Monckton, Our Miss Gibbs
Miss Gibbs: Moonstruck § In Yorkshire
Lionel Monckton, The Quaker Girl
Prudence: A Quaker Girl § Tony from America § I wore a little grey bonnet
Jerome Moross, The Golden Apple
Penelope: My love is on the way § Windflowers § The Tirade
James Gilbert, Grab Me a Gondola
?: Bid Him a Fond Goodbye
Frederic Norton, Chu Chin Chow
Marjanah: Cleopatra's Nile § I love thee so
Alcolom: I long for the sun
Ivor Novello, Careless Rapture
Penelope Lee: Music in May § Wait for me
Ivor Novello, The Dancing Years
Maria Ziegler: Waltz of my heart § I can give you the starlight § My dearest Dear
Grete: Primrose
Cacilie Kurt: When it's Spring in Vienna
Ivor Novello, Gay's the Word
Linda: Finder, please return § On such a night as this § Sweet Thames
Ivor Novello, Glamorous Night
Militza Hajos: When the gypsy played § Glamorous Night
Ivor Novello, King's Rhapsody
Cristiane: Someday my heart will awake § Mountain Dove § If this were love § The violin began to play
Ivor Novello, Perchance to Dream
Melinda/Melanie: Love is my reason for living § A woman's heart § We'll gather lilacs (reprise) (Lydia/Veronica/Iris) § When I curtsied to the King § The Glo-Glo
Ivor Novello, Valley of Song (aka Lily of the Valley)
Lily: Look in my heart
Cole Porter, Kiss Me, Kate
Lilli/Kate*: So in Love § I Hate Men
Claibe Richardson, The Grass Harp
Dolly Talbo: Chain of love
Richard Rodgers, Allegro
Beulah: So far
Richard Rodgers, Carousel
Julie Jordan: When I worked at the mill...If I loved you § What's the use of wond'rin'
Carrie Pipperidge: When I marry Mr. Snow
Richard Rodgers, Cinderella
Cinderella: In my own little corner
Richard Rodgers, Flower Drum Song
Helen Chao: Love, look away
Richard Rodgers, The King and I
Tuptim: My Lord and Master
Richard Rodgers, Oklahoma!
Laurie: Many a New Day § Out of My Dreams
Richard Rodgers, Pipe Dream
Fauna*: Sweet Thursday § All at once you love her (reprise)
Richard Rodgers, Rex
Jane Seymour: Away from You
Richard Rodgers, South Pacific
Bloody Mary*: Bali H'ai § Happy Talk
Richard Rodgers, The Sound of Music
Maria: The Sound of Music § My Favorite Things § I Have Confidence § Lonely Goatherd § Something Good
Mother Abbess*: Climb ev'ry mountain
Richard Rodgers, State Fair
Marcy: It might as well be Spring
Harold Rome, Fanny
Fanny: Does he know? § I have to tell you § Other hands, other hearts§ Be kind to your parents
Mark Sandrich, Jr., Ben Franklin in Paris
Janine: You're in Paris
Harvey Schmidt, 110 in the Shade
Lizzie Curry: Love, don't turn away § Simple little things § Is it really me?
Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks
Luisa, the girl: Much More
Michel Schoenberg, Les Misérables
Cosette: I Saw Him Once
Lucy Simon, The Secret Garden
Lily: How could I ever know?
Julian Slade, Salad Days
Jane: I Sit in the Sun § The Time of My Life
Julian Slade, Trelawny
Avonia Bunn: The Turn of Avonia Bunn
Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd
Johanna: Green Finch and Linnet Bird
Charles Strouse, Nightingale
The Nightingale: Who are these people? § A singer must be free
Charles Strouse, Rags
Rebecca Hershkowitz*: Children of the wind § Blame it on the summer night
Kurt Weill, Lost in the Stars
Irina*: Trouble man § Stay well
Kurt Weill, Street Scene
Anna Maurrant: Somehow I never could believe
Meredith Willson, The Music Man
Marian Paroo: My White Knight § Goodnight, My Someone
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Anastasia Affaire
Anna: A song from somewhere § My kind of love § That song § I live again
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Kismet
Marsinah: Baubles, bangles, and beads § This is my beloved
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Magdalena
Maria: Lost
Teresa: Food for thought § Teresa cooks § Pièce de résistance
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Song of Norway
Nina: I love you
* Also sung by mezzos.
Mezzo-Soprano*
Steve Alper, The Immigrant
Leah: Candlesticks
Georges Bizet, Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones: Dat's love § Dere's a cafe on de corner § De cards don' lie
Ron Grainer, Robert and Elizabeth
Henrietta: You Only to Love Me
Jerry Herman, Hello, Dolly
Irene: Ribbons down my back
Jerome Kern, Sweet Adeline
Addie: Here am I § Why was I born?
Ivor Novello, Arc de Triomphe
Josephine: Dark Music
Ivor Novello, Careless Rapture
Mme. Simonetti: Why is it ever goodbye?
Ivor Novello, Crest of the Wave
?: Haven of My Heart
Ivor Novello, Glamorous Night
Cleo Wellington: Shanty Town § The girl I knew
Ivor Novello, King's Rhapsody
Vera: Fly Home, Little Heart
Ivor Novello, Perchance to Dream
Ernestine: Highwayman Love
Richard Rodgers, The Boys from Syracuse
Adriana: Falling in love with love
Richard Rodgers, Carousel
Nettie Fowler: You'll Never Walk Alone
Richard Rodgers, Do I Hear a Waltz?
Leona Samish: Someone woke up § Here we are again § Do I hear a waltz?
Richard Rodgers, Flower Drum Song
Mei Li: I am going to like it here
Richard Rodgers, The King and I
Anna: I Whistle a Happy Tune § Hello, Young Lovers § Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?
Lady Thiang: Something Wonderful
Richard Rodgers, No Strings
Barbara Woodruff: The Sweetest Sounds § Loads of Love § You don't tell me § Maine § An Orthodox fool
Stephen Sondheim, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Domina: That Dirty Old Man
Kurt Weill, Lady in the Dark
Liza Elliot: The princess of pure delight § My ship
Kurt Weill, Lost in the Stars
Linda: Who'll buy?
Kurt Weill, Street Scene
Rose Maurrant: What good would the moon be?
* In most musicals, there is no distinction between mezzo-soprano and contralto, other than the fact that younger low-voiced
female roles are likely to be sung by lyric mezzos, and older low-voiced female roles by dramatic mezzos or contraltos.
Tenor
Leonard Bernstein, Candide
Candide: It must be so § This world § It must be me § Nothing more than this
Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story
Tony: Something's coming § Maria
Georges Bizet, Carmen Jones
Joe: Dis flower
Jerry Bock, Fiddler on the Roof
Perchik*: Now I Have Everything
Jerry Bock, She Loves Me
George Nowack: Tonight at eight § She loves me
Geld, Shenandoah
Young Soldier: The Only Home I Know
James Gilbert, Grab Me a Gondola
?: Chianti
John Kander, Chicago
Amos: Mister Cellophane
Jerome Kern, The Cat and the Fiddle
Pompineau: La nuit est pour l'amour § The night was made for love § Poor Pierrot § She didn't say yes
Victor Florescu: One moment alone (is all we own) § She brings a new smile, or Your new love is old
Jerome Kern, Show Boat
Gaylord Ravenal*: Where's the Mate for Me? § Till Good Luck Comes My Way
Jerome Kern, Sitting Pretty
Bill Pennington: There Isn't One Girl § I'm Wise
Michael John La Chiusa, Marie Christine
Dante Keyes: Your name
Mitch Leigh, Man of La Mancha
Padre Anselmo: To Each His Dulcinea § The Psalm
Frank Loesser, The Most Happy Fella
Joe the Foreman: Joey, Joey, Joey
Frederick Loewe, Brigadoon
Charlie Dalrymple: I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean § Come to Me, Bend to Me
Tommy Albright: Almost Like Being in Love § There but for You Go I
Frederick Loewe, My Fair Lady
Freddy Eynsford-Hill: On the Street Where You Live
Frederick Loewe, Paint Your Wagon
Tony Bavaar: I Talk to the Trees § Another Autumn
Jerome Moross, The Golden Apple
Ulysses: Store-bought suit § Soliloquy
Richard Rodgers, Allegro
Joseph Taylor: It's a darn nice campus
Richard Rodgers, Carousel
Mr. Snow: Geraniums in the Winder
Richard Rodgers, Do I Hear a Waltz?
Renato di Rossi: Someone likes you § Bargaining § Take the moment § Stay
Richard Rodgers, No Strings
Louis dePourtal: The man who has everything
Richard Rodgers, South Pacific
Lt. Cable: Younger than Springtime
Harold Rome, Fanny
Marius: Restless heart § Fanny § The thought of you
Lucy Simon, The Secret Garden
Archibald*: Race You to the Top of the Morning § Where in the World?
Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music
Carl-Magnus: In Praise of Women
Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd
Anthony Hope: Johanna
Adolfo Pirelli: The Contest
Kurt Weill, Lost in the Stars
Leader*: The Hills of Ixopo § Cry the Beloved Country
Kurt Weill, Street Scene
Sam Kaplan: Lonely house
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Kismet
Imam: The Sands of Time
Caliph*: Stranger in Paradise § Night of My Nights
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Magdalena
Pedro*: My bus and I
The Old One: Magdalena
* Role also sung by high baritones.
Baritone
Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, The Pajama Game
Sid Sorokin: Hey there
Irving Berlin, Annie, Get Your Gun
Frank Butler: The Girl that I Marry § They say it's wonderful
Leonard Bernstein, Mass
Celebrant: A simple song
Leonard Bernstein, On the Town
Gabey: Lonely Town § Lucky to Be Me
Rick Besoyan, Little Mary Sunshine
Captain Jim: You're the fairest flower
Jacques Brel, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Amsterdam, The Bulls
Cy Coleman, On the Twentieth Century
Oscar Jaffe: The Legacy § Sign, Lily, Sign
Ervin Drake, Her First Roman
Julius Caesar: Song to the Sphinx § In Vino Veritas
Sherman Edwards, 1776
Edward Rutledge: Tobacco to Rum to Slaves
Ron Grainer, Robert and Elizabeth
Robert Browning: The Moon in my Pocket § I Said Love § Long Ago I Loved You § Escape me Never § Frustration
Dr. Chambers: The World Outside (reprise)
Albert Hague, Plain and Fancy
Peter Reber: Young and foolish
Albert Hague, Redhead
Tom Baxter: I'm back in circulation
Jerry Herman, Milk and Honey
Phil: Shalom § There's no reason in the world § Let's not waste a moment § Like a young man § I will follow you
Burton Lane, Finian's Rainbow
Sharon: How are things in Glocca Morra? § Look to the rainbow
Mitch Leigh, Man of La Mancha
Cervantes/Don Quixote: The Impossible Dream § Dulcinea
Frank Loesser, The Most Happy Fella
Tony Esposito: Mamma, Mamma...Rosabella § Ah, Mamma don't know...Mamma, Mamma § She ain't got no place to go...She gonna come home wit' me
Frederick Loewe, Camelot
Lancelot: C'est Moi § If Ever I Would Leave You
Frederick Loewe, Gigi
Gaston Lachaille: It's a Bore § She is Not Thinking of Me
Frederick Loewe, Paint Your Wagon
Miner: They Call the Wind Maria
Alan Menken, Beauty and the Beast
Beast: How long must this go on? § If I can't love her
Bob Merrill, Carnival
Paul: I've got to find a reason § Everybody likes you § Her face § She's my love
Cole Porter, Kiss Me, Kate
Fred/Petruchio: I've Come to Wive it Wealthily in Padua § Were Thine That Special Face § Where is the Life of Late I Led?
Richard Rodgers, The Boys from Syracuse
Antipholus of Syracuse: Dear old Syracuse
Richard Rodgers, Carousel
Billy Bigelow: If I Loved You § Soliloquy § The Highest Judge of All
Richard Rodgers, No Strings
David Jordan: The sweetest sounds § So sad
Richard Rodgers, Oklahoma!
Curly: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' § Surry with the Fringe on Top
Jud Fry: Lonely Room
Harvey Schmidt, 110 in the Shade
Bill Starbuck: Melisande
Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks
El Gallo: Try to Remember
Michel Schoenberg, Les Misérables
Javert: Stars § Suicide
Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music
Carl-Magnus: In Praise of Women
Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Barber and His Wife § Epiphany § The Letter
Beadle: Ladies in their sensitivities
Charles Strouse, Nightingale
The Emperor: Perfect Harmony (reprise) § Nobody ever sang for me
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Kismet
Hajj: Gesticulate § Fate § The Olive Tree § Sands of Time (reprise)
Kurt Weill, Lost in the Stars
Stephen Kumalo: Thousands of miles § Lost in the Stars § Little Gray House §The Soliloquy (O Tixo, Tixo, Help Me)
Kurt Weill, Street Scene
Henry Davis: I've got a marble and a star
Harry Easter: Wouldn't you like to be on Broadway?
Frank Wildhorn, Jekyll and Hyde
Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde: I need to know § This is the moment § Transformation § Alive! § Streak of madness § Reflections § No-one must ever know § Once upon a dream § Confrontation
Frank Wildhorn, The Scarlet Pimpernel
Percy: Prayer§ When I look at you (reprise)§ She was there
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Anastasia Affaire
Bounine: The Anastasia waltz § If this is goodbye
Robert Wright/George Forrest, Song of Norway
Rikaard: The Legend
Bass
Ron Grainer, Robert and Elizabeth
Edward Barrett: What the World Calls Love § I'm the Master Here
Richard Rodgers, South Pacific
Emile de Becque*: Some Enchanted Evening § This Nearly was Mine
Harold Rome, Fanny
Cesar*: Welcome home§ Love is a very light thing
Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd
Judge Turpin: Johanna (reprise)
Kurt Weill, Street Scene
Frank Maurrant: Let things be like they always was
* Role also sung by low baritones.
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