mezzo-sopranos
Between alto, soprano
Mezzo-sopranos is the plural of mezzo-soprano, a female singing voice that falls between soprano and contralto—lower and richer than soprano, higher than contralto.
The term comes from Italian, with mezzo meaning middle or half.
Mezzo-sopranos often play complex dramatic roles: seductresses, witches, mothers, and trouser roles where women portray young men.
Lower female voice
- contraltoLowest female vocal range
- tessituraPredominant pitch range
- rangeExtent of variation
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
timbre · chest voice · head voice · passaggio · warm · lyric · dramatic · coloratura
Theatrical art combining song
- liederArchaic word for songs
- oratorioUnstaged sacred choral work
- art songComposed vocal setting poetry
- recitalSolo musical performance
Handel · Rossini · Verdi · Mozart · Strauss · Baroque · bel canto · Mahler
Unbroken musical phrasing
- agilityQuickness and ease
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- trillsRapid pitch alternations
- runsMoves fast on foot
ornamentation · phrasing · diction · interpretation · portamento · cover
Spanish female name
- RosinaFeminine given name
- OctavianRome's founding emperor
- CharlotteFeminine name, Carolina city
- villainessEvil female character
witch · nurse · mother · seductress · rival · confidante · sorceress · gypsy
alto
Lower female voice
register · timbre · chest voice · head voice · passaggio · warm · lyric · dramatic · coloratura · tone
opera
Theatrical art combining song
- liederArchaic word for songs
- oratorioUnstaged sacred choral work
- art songComposed vocal setting poetry
recital · Handel · Rossini · Verdi · Mozart · Strauss · Baroque · bel canto · Mahler · Berlioz
legato
Unbroken musical phrasing
- agilityQuickness and ease
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- trillsRapid pitch alternations
runs · ornamentation · phrasing · diction · interpretation · portamento · cover
Carmen
Spanish female name
villainess · witch · nurse · mother · seductress · rival · confidante · sorceress · gypsy · princess