soprano
The highest singing voice, typically of women or boys; a singer with such a voice.
While soprano is the highest standard vocal range, it is subdivided into categories like coloratura soprano (agile, high runs), lyric soprano (warm, melodic), and dramatic soprano (powerful, dark).
Word relationships
- treble: Treble is often used to describe the high vocal range of young boys before their voices break, or the high part in instrumental music, whereas soprano typically refers to adult female singers.
- alto: Alto (or contralto) is the lowest female singing voice, contrasting directly with the high soprano.
- bass: Bass is the lowest male singing voice, representing the opposite end of the vocal spectrum from soprano.
Commonly confused with
- mezzo-soprano: A mezzo-soprano has a vocal range that lies between the soprano and the alto, typically with a warmer, darker quality than a true soprano.
Collocations
- coloratura soprano
- lyric soprano
- soprano aria
- soprano voice
- lead soprano
Example sentences
- "The opera house is auditioning for a dramatic soprano to play the lead role in Puccini's Turandot." An opera casting announcement.
- "The soprano section led the melody, their voices soaring high above the rest of the choir." A classic description of a choral performance.
Memory hook
Think of 'soprano' as 'super-high'. The soprano is the singer who sings 'above' all the other voices. Soprano is the super-high voice above the rest.
When not to use
Do not use soprano to describe a high-pitched male voice unless referring to a 'boy soprano' (treble) or a 'male soprano' (a rare classical singer who sings in that range using a specialized technique).
Fun facts
- In the 17th and 18th centuries, the highest operatic roles were often sung by 'castrati'—male singers who had been castrated before puberty to preserve their high soprano voices while developing the lung capacity of adult men.
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