Voice Types in Opera

There are four main voice types in singing: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. In opera, these voice types are further broken out into categories that reflect the singer's vocal range as well as the dramatic requirements of an operatic role.

Soprano: The highest of the female voice types, the soprano has always had a place of prominence in the vocal hierarchy. In opera, the heroine or protagonist is portrayed by a soprano, because the high, bright sound typical of the soprano voice suggests youth, innocence, and virtue.

There are several different types of soprano voices:

• Coloratura
  Noted for an 'upper extension' of high notes as well as a light quality or color that allows the voice to perform rapid and highly ornamented passages. Examples of coloratura singers include Lily Pons, Joan Sutherland, and Beverly Sills.

  "La Reggimi, o buona madre" from Bellini's Sonnambula. Performed by Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Alberto Zedda, conductor. Excerpt courtesy of Naxos.

    Sample (real audio): "La Reggimi, o buona madre"

• Lyric
  A voice with a light, innocent quality. The role is often graceful, charming, and sentimental. Examples of lyric singers include Montserrat Caballé, Mirella Freni, and Kiri Te Kanawa.

• Dramatic
  The 'heaviest' or most darkly colored vocal quality of the soprano types. Examples of dramatic singers include Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, and Carol Vaness.

Mezzo-soprano: A mezzo-soprano, or mezzo, has a voice lower then a soprano's but higher than a contralto's. Throughout opera history the mezzo has been used to portray many different types of characters, such as mothers or mother-types, seductive heroines, and villainesses. Mezzo's can also play young men, performing in so-called "trouser" or "pants" roles. In choral music, the vocal counter-part of the mezzo-soprano is the alto. An example of a mezzo-soprano singer is Marilyn Horne.

Contralto: The lowest of the female voice types. It is rare to find a contralto singer, and true contralto roles are few and far between. The roles performed by a contralto typically consist of character parts, such as older women, witches, and gypsies. An example of a contralto singer is Marian Anderson.

Countertenor: A high male voice, generally singing within the female contralto or mezzo- soprano range. The countertenor frequently portrayed young, virile men or innocent, blushing adolescents. The voices were generally quite powerful. An example of a countertenor is Alfred Deller.

Tenor: A tenor is a male singer with a high voice, although not as high as a countertenor. The tenor often plays sympathetic roles in an opera, such as the hero or protagonist. Examples of tenor singers include Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, and Plácido Domingo.

There are several types of tenor voices:

• Lyric Tenor: A voice that possesses high, bright tones, and a flowing vocal style.

• Dramatic Tenor: A voice noted for ringing tones, full resonance, and a darker quality.

Baritone: The baritone is the most common male voice, lower in range than the tenor and with a darker tone. In comic opera, the baritone is often the ringleader of the hijinks, but in tragic opera, he is often the villain. Examples of baritone singers include Robert Merrill and Sherrill Milnes.

Bass-baritone: Voices with a range between that of the baritone and the bass. The "tessitura" of these roles is higher than what a bass can comfortably sing. However, occasionally the music requires the vocal range of the bass, and when this occurs, a bass-baritone often achieves the darkness of color that a bass possesses.

Bass: The lowest and "darkest" of the male voices. In opera seria, basses usually portray characters who are aged, wise, or evil. In opera buffa, basses generally portray characters who are foolish, or laughable. Examples of bass singers include Ezio Pinza and Nicolai Ghiaurov.

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