animato
With spirit; in an animated, lively manner.
In Depth
Animato instructs performers to play with spirit and liveliness. It can appear as a standalone [tempo marking](/term/tempo%20marking) or as a modifier within a passage, such as piu animato (more animated). The marking affects character as much as speed — the music should feel energized and full of life. When animato appears mid-phrase, it often signals a shift from a calmer passage into something more vibrant. Performers achieve this through brighter tone, more pronounced articulation, and a subtle increase in forward motion. It is common in Romantic-era piano and orchestral music.
Verdi sometimes wrote animato in his opera scores at moments where he wanted the singers to literally come alive on stage — the musical direction was also a stage direction.
Related Terms
More in Tempo
Browse alla tempo
Return to the original tempo after a deviation.
accelerando
A gradual increase in tempo.
adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo, typically 66-76 BPM.
agitato
Agitated; restless and hurried in character.
alla breve
Cut time; two half-note beats per measure, giving a faster feel.
allegretto
A moderately fast tempo, slightly slower than allegro.
allegro
A fast, lively tempo, typically 120-156 BPM.
andante
A walking pace tempo, typically 76-108 BPM.