sopraan

Sopraan, or soprano in Dutch, is the highest vocal range used for female singers in classical music. In opera, oratorio, and choral singing, the soprano part typically carries the leading female role or the uppermost melodic line. The term refers both to the voice type and to the singer who occupies that range.

The typical soprano range runs roughly from A3 to C6, with most repertoire seated in the middle to upper part of this span. Some singers, especially in coloratura roles, sing higher notes, while others may have a lighter timbre that suits lyrical lines. The choice of repertoire is often described in terms of tessitura—the parts of the range where the voice feels most comfortable and expressive.

Common subtypes include coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, and dramatic soprano. Coloratura sopranos are noted for agility and high, rapid ornamentation, often performing virtuosic arias that demand extended high notes. Lyric sopranos have a warm, flexible voice suited to melodic and expressive lines. Dramatic sopranos possess a powerful, expansive instrument capable of sustained intensity and dramatic weight. Some classifications also include spinto and other intermediate types to describe heavier or lighter voices within the soprano range.

In performance, sopranos typically sing the highest female lines in choral works and are frequently cast in principal roles in opera. The repertoire requires technical training in breath support, articulation, legato singing, and, for coloratura, precise ornamentation.

Notable sopranos include Maria Callas, Renée Fleming, Leontyne Price, Joan Sutherland, and Anna Netrebko.