Soprano is the highest singing voice. Typically, it refers to female singers but, at times, the term male soprano has been used; see, for example, Robert Crowe. Such terminology, however, is considered controversial; there are those in vocal pedagogic circles who maintain that these male performers do not produce sound in the same physiological way that female sopranos do. Usually, sopranos have the female leading role.There are many subdivisions within this voice type. There exists the coloratura, the light lyric soprano, the lyric soprano, the spinto soprano and the dramatic soprano. This last soprano type is extremely powerful and rich, so much so that they can often exert their voice over a large orchestra. Such dramatic sopranos are known as Wagnerian sopranos.
Mezzo-soprano is a singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto (see below.) They generally have a heavier, darker tone than sopranos. They typically sing secondary roles in opera, often in the parts of witches, nurses, wise women, villains, seductresses or trouser roles (male characters played by female singers.) In general, they are broken down into coloratura mezzo-soprano, lyric mezzo-soprano and dramatic mezzo-soprano.
Contralto is the lowest female singing voice. They are fairly rare in opera since there is very little work written specifically for them. Most of the time, contralto performances are limited to maids, mothers and grandmothers, but they do occasionally get notable roles, often playing female villains such as witches or playing male figures that were originally intended for to be performed by castrato singers (see "C19th Opera in Italy" below). Listen to an example of contralto here.
Valido Montenegro, B. Clasificación de las voces femeninas. Iniciación a la Ópera. 2008-2009. Talleres y Cursos Culturales. ULPGC.
Image: After the Aria by Patricia La Rossa.
