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Do you see any microphones on the set?
Probably not—because opera singers don’t
need them! Opera singers are like Olympic athletes. They go through years of training so their
voices can fill an entire auditorium WITHOUT microphones!
Here are voice types usually found in opera:
Sing it Loud!
What kind of voices do you think these animals would have if they sang an opera?
Think of your favorite story, movie, or television show. If that story was to be turned into an opera,
what kind of voice types would be best for each character?
You can hear different kinds of voice types in popular music too. Do your favorite singers have
high voices or low voices? Can you guess what voice type they might be?
Soprano
(soh-PRAH-no) - the highest female
voice in opera. They usually sing roles like daughters,
girlfriends, wives, or princesses.
Mezzo-soprano
(MET-soh soh-PRAH-no) - the
middle range of the female singing voice. They might
play good or bad characters—everything from sisters
to daughters to mothers to evil queens. Lydia, Elizabeth,
and Elder Constance are mezzo-sopranos.
Tenor
(TEH-ner) - usually the highest male
voice in opera. Tenors often sing roles like
heroes or princes. Jake is a tenor.
Baritone
(BEAR-ih-tone) - the middle male
voice in opera. Baritones play all sorts of roles.
Sometimes they’re good guys, like brothers or
fathers. But sometimes they’re bad guys, too.
David and Bonobo are baritones.
Bass
(BASE) - the lowest, deepest male voice
of all. Basses often play characters who are old
and wise, but they can also be evil villains.