mezzo-soprano

/ˌmetsəʊ səˈprɑːnəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmetsəʊ səˈprænəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmet-(ˌ)sō-sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō -ˈprä-, ˌmed-(ˌ)zō-/ (ame, mw)

mezzo-soprano — noun

1. a female singer whose natural vocal range sits between the higher soprano part a

1.名詞B2
釋義

a female singer whose natural vocal range sits between the higher soprano part and the lower contralto part in a choir or opera production.

例句

Elena trained as a mezzo-soprano and now sings at the Vienna State Opera.

trained as a + voice type

The choir director asked the mezzo-soprano to take the lead in the second movement of the piece.

同義詞
  • alto

    refers to a choir part rather than a voice type; an alto part is usually sung by a mezzo-soprano or contralto

  • contralto

    the lowest female voice type, lower than a mezzo-soprano

反義詞
  • soprano

    the highest female voice type, higher than a mezzo-soprano

文法句型

a mezzo-soprano

the mezzo-soprano

用法筆記

Frequently paired with adjectives describing experience (seasoned, trained, young) or nationality. Not used for male singers — the male equivalent at a similar range is countertenor.

常見錯誤

She is a mezzo-soprano singer, like an alto.
She is a mezzo-soprano, whose range sits between soprano and contralto.
💡An alto is a choir part, not the same as a vocal classification; mezzo-soprano is the vocal category, not a choir section.

2. the middle-pitched female vocal register, which sits between the highest female

2.名詞B2
釋義

the middle-pitched female vocal register, which sits between the highest female voice (soprano) and the lowest (contralto) and is known for its warm, full sound.

例句

Fatima's mezzo-soprano has a dark, powerful quality that works beautifully in dramatic arias.

possessive + mezzo-soprano as a quality

The composer wrote the role specifically for a voice with a warm mezzo-soprano range.

voice with a + adjective + range

同義詞
  • alto

    a choral part roughly in the same range, but not an exact voice-type match

  • middle register

    a general term for the mid-range of any voice, not specific to females

反義詞
  • soprano

    the highest female vocal register

  • contralto

    the lowest female vocal register

文法句型

a mezzo-soprano (voice)

has a mezzo-soprano

用法筆記

Used as both a countable noun (a mezzo-soprano voice) and an uncountable quality (has mezzo-soprano in her range). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes the vocal quality itself, not the person who sings with it.

常見錯誤

Mezzo-soprano is the same as alto.
Mezzo-soprano is a vocal range between soprano and contralto; alto is a choral part that may be sung by mezzos or contraltos.
💡The terms belong to different classification systems.