vocalism

Mr. Johnson added dense layers of guitar, saxophone and percussion, and a virtuosic solo part for live guitarist, with pitches, melodic motifs and rhythms derived from the recorded vocalism.

At the Met, Bernheim played against type with his slippery vocalism and louche, jaded demeanor.

Only the brutally written “Dirge” brings out rough cracks in his vocalism’s delicate veneer.

“He’s so inventive with his vocalism,” she said.

What emerges is a feast of vocalism from four multidimensional characters — played by women — who go through epic transformation, and two stock-character men who don’t.