Opera has its origins in the late 16th century and is a form of theater that’s still popular today. It’s a singing style with dialogue between the characters as well as the chorus. The operatic voices are classified as either male or female and can also be categorized as either high or low.
The five most important operatic voices that you should know are:
1) Soprano voice: Sopranos sing in the highest range of all women’s vocalists and they’re typically playing female roles.
2) Mezzo-soprano: This voice falls between sopranos and tenors, so it falls in a higher range than baritones but lower than tenors.
3) Baritone voice: These voices are the lowest of the male voices. They have a deep, rich tone that is more “overtone” than “overtones.”
Introduction: Introduction to Operatic Voices
Operatic voices are categorized into four different groups. Sopranos are the highest-pitched, mezzo-sopranos are in the middle, tenors are the lowest-pitched and basses are the lowest of all.
Sopranos – Sopranos has the highest vocal range and they can reach notes that other singers cannot. This is because their vocal cords are made of more elastic tissue which allows them to sustain a note for a longer period. They often play young female characters in opera and sing with a very high voice.
Mezzo-sopranos – Mezzo-sopranos has a higher vocal range than sopranos but it is still shorter than the tenor’s range. They usually play young male roles as well as older female roles
Lean More About Sopranos
Coloratura sopranos are the highest vocalists in the operatic range. They typically play female leads in operas and other dramatic works.
The coloratura voice is a rare voice type, and women with this voice can be even more limited in their career options. The majority of coloratura sopranos sing dramatic opera and usually do not sing other types of music such as Broadway musicals, operettas, or folk songs.
Coloratura soprano singers typically have a high range and can produce vocal colors in their singing which separates them from most other types of singers. Coloratura sopranos such as Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Schell and Renata Tebaldi were often
What are Mezzo-Sopranos?
Mezzo-soprano colors of the rainbow is a term for women who can sing anywhere from middle C up to high C.
Mezzo-sopranos can generally sing from middle C up to high C, and sometimes D. They are known as “the mother voice” because of their ability to combine a strong tone with a soft, gentle quality.
How Do Tenors Sound?
The tenor voice is the highest male adult voice type. It is the only adult male voice that is not broken into different subtypes.
Tenors can achieve vocal heights and lung capacity like no one else, and their voices are characterized by a rich and powerful sound – but they also have a vulnerability to them that makes them perfect for dramatic work.
The Different Roles for Basses & Baritones in Opera
Historically, basses and baritones have had quite different roles in opera.
Basses are typically given the roles of villains, old men, or symbolic characters. Baritones are typically given more romantic parts.