Recently, I came across a friend who had a different idea on how a soprano should sound. In fact, he mistook my voice as an alto which in actual fact, my highest note in record was a high B flat to B. In technical terms, I'm a lyric soprano.
I would like to share with everyone that there are different types of female voices as follows:
Soprano: The highest of the female voice types, the soprano has always had a place of prominence in the vocal hierarchy. In opera, the heroine or protagonist is portrayed by a soprano, because the high, bright sound typical of the soprano voice suggests youth, innocence, and virtue.
There are several different types of soprano voices:
Coloratura
Noted for an 'upper extension' of high notes as well as a light quality or color that allows the voice to perform rapid and highly ornamented passages. Examples of coloratura singers include Lily Pons, Joan Sutherland, and Beverly Sills.
"La Reggimi, o buona madre" from Bellini's Sonnambula. Performed by Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Alberto Zedda, conductor. Excerpt courtesy of Naxos.
Sample (real audio): "La Reggimi, o buona madre"
Lyric
A voice with a light, innocent quality. The role is often graceful, charming, and sentimental. Examples of lyric singers include Montserrat Caballé, Mirella Freni, and Kiri Te Kanawa.
Dramatic
The 'heaviest' or most darkly colored vocal quality of the soprano types. Examples of dramatic singers include Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, and Carol Vaness.
Examples: Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Mimi in La bohème
"Jewel Song" from Gounods's Faust, featuring Mary Mills as Marguerite (coloratura soprano) and the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Jacques Lacombe. Excerpt courtesy of Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Opera America Sample: "Jewel Song"
Mezzo-soprano: A mezzo-soprano, or mezzo, has a voice lower then a soprano's but higher than a contralto's. Throughout opera history the mezzo has been used to portray many different types of characters, such as mothers or mother-types, seductive heroines, and villainesses. Mezzo's can also play young men, performing in so-called "trouser" or "pants" roles. In choral music, the vocal counter-part of the mezzo-soprano is the alto. An example of a mezzo-soprano singer is Marilyn Horne.
Examples: Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Rosina in Il barbiere di Sivilglia (The Barber of Seville)
NEA CD: "Habanera" sung by Carmen in Bizet's Carmen, Graciela Alperyn, mezzo-soprano
Contralto: The lowest of the female voice types. It is rare to find a contralto singer, and true contralto roles are few and far between. The roles performed by a contralto typically consist of character parts, such as older women, witches, and gypsies. An example of a contralto singer is Marian Anderson.
Examples: Baroness in Vanessa, Maria in Porgy and Bess, Maddalena in Rigoletto
"Reverenza" from Verdi's Falstaff. Chorus and Orchestra of Hungarian Opera, Anikó Katona , Chorus Master, Will Humburg, Conductor. Excerpt courtesy of Naxos.
The above information, including the sound can be found in detail at http://arts.endow.gov/national/gav/voicetypes.html
I would like to share with everyone that there are different types of female voices as follows:
Soprano: The highest of the female voice types, the soprano has always had a place of prominence in the vocal hierarchy. In opera, the heroine or protagonist is portrayed by a soprano, because the high, bright sound typical of the soprano voice suggests youth, innocence, and virtue.
There are several different types of soprano voices:
Coloratura
Noted for an 'upper extension' of high notes as well as a light quality or color that allows the voice to perform rapid and highly ornamented passages. Examples of coloratura singers include Lily Pons, Joan Sutherland, and Beverly Sills.
"La Reggimi, o buona madre" from Bellini's Sonnambula. Performed by Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Alberto Zedda, conductor. Excerpt courtesy of Naxos.
Sample (real audio): "La Reggimi, o buona madre"
Lyric
A voice with a light, innocent quality. The role is often graceful, charming, and sentimental. Examples of lyric singers include Montserrat Caballé, Mirella Freni, and Kiri Te Kanawa.
Dramatic
The 'heaviest' or most darkly colored vocal quality of the soprano types. Examples of dramatic singers include Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, and Carol Vaness.
Examples: Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Mimi in La bohème
"Jewel Song" from Gounods's Faust, featuring Mary Mills as Marguerite (coloratura soprano) and the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Jacques Lacombe. Excerpt courtesy of Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Opera America Sample: "Jewel Song"
Mezzo-soprano: A mezzo-soprano, or mezzo, has a voice lower then a soprano's but higher than a contralto's. Throughout opera history the mezzo has been used to portray many different types of characters, such as mothers or mother-types, seductive heroines, and villainesses. Mezzo's can also play young men, performing in so-called "trouser" or "pants" roles. In choral music, the vocal counter-part of the mezzo-soprano is the alto. An example of a mezzo-soprano singer is Marilyn Horne.
Examples: Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Rosina in Il barbiere di Sivilglia (The Barber of Seville)
NEA CD: "Habanera" sung by Carmen in Bizet's Carmen, Graciela Alperyn, mezzo-soprano
Contralto: The lowest of the female voice types. It is rare to find a contralto singer, and true contralto roles are few and far between. The roles performed by a contralto typically consist of character parts, such as older women, witches, and gypsies. An example of a contralto singer is Marian Anderson.
Examples: Baroness in Vanessa, Maria in Porgy and Bess, Maddalena in Rigoletto
"Reverenza" from Verdi's Falstaff. Chorus and Orchestra of Hungarian Opera, Anikó Katona , Chorus Master, Will Humburg, Conductor. Excerpt courtesy of Naxos.
The above information, including the sound can be found in detail at http://arts.endow.gov/national/gav/voicetypes.html
