Mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano - Definition and Overview

Vocal ranges
Female ranges
Soprano
Mezzo-soprano
Alto

Male Ranges

Sopranista
Countertenor
Alto
Tenor
Baritone
Basso
Castrato

A mezzo-soprano (meaning "medium soprano" in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that of a soprano and that of an alto. The terms Dugazon and Galli-MariƩ are sometimes used to refer to light mezzo sopranos, after the names of famous singers. A castrato with a mezzo-soprano voice was called a mezzo-soprano castrato.

Mezzo sopranos usually only get to sing second roles in operas, with Bizet's Carmen and Rosina (in Rossini's Barber of Seville) as the most notable exceptions. These parts are often sung by dramatic sopranos, although this is inappropriate.

Famous mezzo-sopranos

See also

Example Usage of Mezzo-soprano

DartmouthFamily: Tonight 7pm in Spaulding ! Mezzo-soprano Mellinger joins pianist-in-residence Pinkas in performance that includes Schumann.
UWFox: Don't forget - FREE noon music performance today! Karen Leigh-Post, mezzo soprano, faculty at Lawrence University... http://bit.ly/52VvOl
SashaCTLC: @LoveMyRadio Beyonce does an F5 and G5 better than your average mezzo soprano. A2-G#5.
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