09/28/2022
Mezzo-Sopranos
Mezzo-sopranos get their name from the Italian prefix “mezzo,” meaning “half.” Although the category translates as “half-soprano,” there’s nothing “halfhearted” about the warm but sturdy voices that make up this group.
In fact, mezzos often sing just as high as their soprano counterparts. In addition, operatic mezzos are also divided into the basic coloratura, lyric, and dramatic groups. What sets mezzos apart are their strong middle voices, their smoldering lower registers, and their lush tone quality.
If a mezzo and a soprano were to sing the exact same pitch, the mezzo’s note would most likely sound a little bit fuller, darker, or heavier (imagine a clarinet playing the same note as a flute). Most female pop and Broadway artists fall into the mezzo category.