What kinds of sopranos are there?

Answer 1

Lyric Coloratura Soprano - A light voice. Capable of doing fast vocal runs, large intervals, and high notes with ease. For sopranos, coloraturas need a very high range and tessitura. Examples of songs: Glitter and be Gay from Candide, The Doll Song from Tales of Hoffman, The Bell Song from Lakme, Grossmachtige Prinzessin from Ariadne auf Naxos. Examples of Singers: Kristin Chenoweth (she doesn't do much Opera though), Diana Damrau (some argue dramatic, more of a full lyric), Kathleen Battle and Natalie Dessay. This type of soprano is almost exclusively found in opera, with the possible exception of musical theatre productions of the operetta Candide.

Dramatic Coloratura Soprano - It is the same as the Lyric Coloratura Soprano by definition except it is a heavier sound. This makes it difficult to have this voice because usually the thicker vocal cords make doing the vocal acrobatics difficult. Examples of songs: Der Holle Rache (The Queen of the Night's aria) from The Magic Flute. Examples of singers: Joan Sutherland.

Lyric Soprano - A light, high voice. The range usually only needs to top out at a D6. The tessitura lies lower than coloratura sopranos and they are not required do have the same agility. This voice type is found within Musical Theatre as well as Opera. Examples of songs: O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicci, Elle a fui from Les Contes D'hoffmann, Quando m'en vo from La boheme. Examples of singers: Renee Fleming and Anna Netrebko (some argue spinto, she is more dark lyric)

Dramatic Soprano - A heavy, high voice. Same range as the lyric soprano, but a heavier sound. Examples: If not performed by a mezzo-soprano, Giulietta from Tales of Hoffman (unless a coloratura soprano is attempting all three roles). Also used very often in Wagner operas. Examples of songs: Ariadne's aria from Ariadne auf Naxos. Examples of Singers: Jessye Norman, Deborah Voigt.

Wagnerian Soprano - An even heavier subgroup of dramatic soprano. Incredibly rare.

Spinto Soprano - Like the lyric soprano, but can be pushed to dramatic heights. Sometimes have a slightly darker tone. Many times a singer is a Spinto early in her career but transitions to become a Dramatic. Examples of songs: Senza Mamma from Suor Angelica, any of Madame Butterfly's arias from Madame Butterfly.

Soubrette - A warm, light voice. It is often for chambermaids in operas. Singers very rarely remain soubrette's throughout their careers. Usually, they will transition into coloratura mezzos (they do exist, like Rossina in Barber of Seville) lyric sopranos, or lyric coloraturas. Examples of songs: Mein Herr Marquis (also in the lyric coloratura repertoire) and Adele's Audition Aria from Die Fledermaus, any of Susanna's arias from The Marriage of Figaro, and Zerlina's arias.