mezzo-soprano

[met-soh-suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh, med-zoh-, mez-oh-]

noun

plural

mezzo-sopranos, mezzo-soprani 

1. a voice or voice part intermediate in compass between soprano and contralto.

2. a person having such a voice.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable to a mezzo-soprano.

mezzo-soprano

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: mezzo. a female voice intermediate between a soprano and contralto and having a range from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above it

2. a singer with such a voice

mezzo soprano

1. A range of the female singing voice lower than soprano and higher than alto.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mezzo-soprano¹

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1745–55

Example Sentences

Rebirth in this thrillingly massive symphony for a massive orchestra and chorus, along with soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists, was writ exceedingly large, transparent and loud.

From Los Angeles Times

But it happened to include a performance by a noted traditional mezzo-soprano, Jamie Barton, that already sets a high standard for operatic performance of the young year.

From Los Angeles Times

Three countertenors have been cast, including as Julius Caesar, a vocally demanding role often given to a mezzo-soprano.

From New York Times

The song builds and builds with an electric guitar that matches the singer's mezzo-soprano and four-octave vocals that merge into the heavy country production backed by drums and banjos.

From Salon

The mezzo-soprano Mildred Miller Posvar sang opera’s so-called trouser roles so many times that one of her daughters once told a friend, “My mommy is a boy.”

From New York Times