A soprano is a type of classical singing voice with the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to A5 in choral music, or to soprano C (C6) or higher in operatic music. In four-part harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which is often the main melody. The soprano voice type is generally classified into coloratura, soubrette, lyric, spinto, and dramatic soprano.

Etymology

The word "soprano" comes from the Italian word sopra, meaning "above" or "on top of," because the soprano is the highest singing voice among humans. This voice type is usually assigned to the main female characters in operas. While "soprano" mostly refers to women, it can also describe men. A male singer who can sing in the soprano range is called a sopranist. A castrato is a term used for male singers who were castrated, a practice common in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. A treble is a boy soprano, whether he has reached puberty or is still a child, as long as he can sing in that range.

The term "soprano" also comes from the Latin word superius, which, like "soprano," meant the highest singing voice range. The word superius was often used in choral and other multi-part vocal music from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Vocal range

The soprano has the highest vocal range among all voice types, with the most comfortable range (tessitura). A soprano and a mezzo-soprano share a similar range, but their comfortable ranges are located in different parts of that range.

The lowest note a soprano can sing is roughly A3 or B♭3 (just below middle C). In opera, the lowest note typically required for sopranos is F3, as seen in Richard Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten. Lower notes in higher voices may not project well, sound less rich, or be less important in certain roles (though some roles by Verdi, Strauss, and Wagner require stronger singing in lower ranges). However, sopranos rarely cannot sing a low note when it is needed in a role. Lower notes can be achieved by lowering the position of the larynx.

The highest note a non-coloratura soprano can reach is "soprano C" (C6, two octaves above middle C). Many standard opera roles require C♯6 or D6. A few roles include optional E♭6 notes. In coloratura opera, some roles require notes as high as E♭6 to F6. Rarely, coloratura roles may demand notes as high as G6 or G♯6, such as in Mozart’s concert aria Popoli di Tessaglia! or the title role in Jules Massenet’s opera Esclarmonde. While these high notes may not always fall within the most comfortable range, a skilled soprano can sing them fully, with clear tone and control over loudness.

In opera, the comfortable range, vocal strength, and unique sound of voices are used to classify roles into categories, often called Fächer (from German Fach or Stimmfach, meaning "vocal category"). A singer’s tessitura is the range where their voice sounds best, has the most volume, and feels most comfortable.

In choral music

In a SATB four-part mixed chorus, the soprano is the highest vocal part, singing above the alto, tenor, and bass. Sopranos typically sing in the range from G4 to A5. When a composer divides the soprano section, they may split it into two groups: Soprano I (the highest part) and Soprano II (the lower soprano part).

In classical solo singing, a singer’s voice is classified based on several traits, such as range, sound quality, strength of the voice, main singing range, how the voice carries sound, and the points where the voice changes pitch (called lifts or "passaggio").

These traits help identify different types of voices. In opera, specific roles are written for certain soprano voices, meaning some parts are meant to be sung by specific soprano types.

Subtypes and roles in opera

The soprano voice type includes five main categories: coloratura soprano, soubrette, lyric soprano, spinto soprano, and dramatic soprano.

Coloratura sopranos can be divided into two types: lyric coloratura and dramatic coloratura. A lyric coloratura soprano has a light, agile voice with a high range that can perform fast, complex vocal passages. These singers can typically sing from middle C (C4) up to high F (F6), though some may sing slightly higher or lower. For example, some singers can reach notes like A♭6 in certain operas, such as "Les oiseaux dans la charmille" from The Tales of Hoffmann. Others, like Audrey Luna, have sung as high as A♮6 in The Exterminating Angel.

A dramatic coloratura soprano has a voice that can handle fast, high notes with flexibility, while also having the strength to sing powerful passages like those of a spinto or dramatic soprano. Their range is usually from low B (B3) to high F (F6), though some may sing slightly higher or lower.

In classical music and opera, a soubrette soprano refers to both a voice type and a specific kind of character role. A soubrette voice is light, bright, and sweet, with a mid-range singing range and limited use of fast, complex notes. This voice is strong enough to be heard over an orchestra without a microphone but is lighter and brighter than other soprano voices. Many singers begin as soubrettes but may later be classified as light lyric sopranos, lyric coloratura sopranos, or coloratura mezzo-sopranos as their voices mature. A soubrette’s range is usually from middle C (C4) to high D (D6), with a slightly lower range than lyric sopranos or spinto sopranos.

A lyric soprano has a warm, bright, and full voice that can be heard over a large orchestra. Their range is typically from middle C (C4) to high D (D6), and they often play characters like ingénues or sympathetic figures in operas. Lyric sopranos can be further divided into light lyric sopranos, which have a youthful sound, and full lyric sopranos, which have a more mature tone and can sing over larger orchestras.

A spinto soprano, Italian for "pushed lyric," has a voice that combines the brightness of a lyric soprano with the ability to sing powerful, dramatic passages without strain. Their range is usually from low B (B3) to high D (D6).

A dramatic soprano, also called a soprano robusto, has a strong, rich, and emotive voice that can be heard over a full orchestra. Their range is typically from low A (A3) to high C (C6), and their voices are often darker in tone than other sopranos. Some dramatic sopranos, called Wagnerian sopranos, have exceptionally large voices that can be heard over orchestras with more than eighty musicians. These voices are strong and consistent across all singing ranges.

Two additional types of sopranos are the Dugazon and the Falcon. A Dugazon is a soubrette with a darker tone, while a Falcon is a dramatic soprano with a darker tone, falling between the soprano and mezzo-soprano categories.