Research on the Soprano Voice

851 Words4 Pages
Research on the Soprano Voice History The voice is a musical instrument. A soprano is a higher singing voice that has a range from middle C to high A. Some can be even higher and span more than two or three octaves. The term comes from the Italian word sopra which means “above”. In the 16th and 17th centuries, soprano referred to male castrati singers because women were not allowed to sing in the church. There are several types of sopranos: lyric, dramatic, and coloratura. A lyric soprano uses a lighter tone. A dramatic soprano uses a more powerful tone. A coloratura soprano has an exceptionally high range. Famous Performers There are several famous sopranos. One famous soprano singer was Dame Joan Sutherland. She was considered the most famous opera star of the post-war period. She had extreme agility, and a warm timbre. She was called the “Voice of the Century” by Luciano Pavarotti during her time. Her voice has been described as fresh and bell-like. Her vocal range extended from a low G to a high F-sharp. Famous Composers There are several famous composers that created musical pieces just for the Soprano voice, which is so widely loved by all. Two of these great composers are Verdi and Mozart. Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer. During the 1960’s, she played Violetta in Verdi’s opera La Traviata. She was also the High Priestess in Verdi’s Aida. Her first leading role was as Amelia in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a composer of the classical era. One opera that I truly love from Mozart is The Magic Flute. It is humorous and makes one think. Joan Sutherland made her professional debut in this opera 1952 where she played the first lady and blew everybody away with her voice. Repertoire Dame Joan Sutherland probably had one of the most outstanding soprano voices ever. It is thick, crisp, and
Open Document