Soprano

singing · opera · classical music · voices

Highest voice ever. A soprano can sing notes higher than any other voice type, reaching from middle C all the way up to C6 and beyond in opera. That's like being able to hit the top notes on a piano that most singers can't reach.

Carries the melody. In a group of singers, the soprano usually sings the main tune that stands out above everyone else. Think of it like being the leader of the musical line that people remember most.

Many soprano styles. There are five main types of sopranos: coloratura (super agile and tricky), soubrette (bright and youthful), lyric (warm and flexible), spinto (powerful and dramatic), and dramatic (the strongest and deepest of all sopranos). Each one has its own special character.

Italian word origins. The word soprano comes from Italian and means 'above' or 'highest.' Opera singers have used this term for hundreds of years to describe the top singing voices.