mezzo-soprano

American  

[met-soh-suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh, med-zoh-, mez-oh-] / ˈmɛt soʊ səˈpræn oʊ, -ˈprɑ noʊ, ˈmɛd zoʊ-, ˈmɛz oʊ- /

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.

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adjective

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

mezzo-soprano British  

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

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mezzo soprano Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of mezzo-soprano

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1745–55

Explanation

In classical music, a mezzo-soprano is the second-highest singing voice. While they don't sing the very highest notes, mezzo-sopranos reach higher registers than contraltos. In Italian, mezzo means "middle," and soprano, "the treble in music," is from a root meaning "above." Mezzo-sopranos are right in the middle, between soprano and contralto voices. Classical music lovers describe mezzo-sopranos as sounding darker and richer than the brighter, higher tone of a soprano. If you want be an opera or choral singer but you can't quite reach those high notes, you may be a mezzo-soprano!

Example Sentences

For celebrated US mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, taking on the piece at the current time was necessary.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Canadian mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny described Chalamet's comments as a "disappointing take" while Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis asked in an Instagram Story: "Why are any artists taking shots at any other artists?"

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Nina Yoshida Nelsen, an Asian mezzo-soprano who is now the artistic director of the Boston Lyric Opera, summed up her personal approach toward such matters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The four soloists — soprano Pretty Yende, mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, tenor SeokJong Baek and bass Nicholas Brownlee — were needfully robust and powerful.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Graumann had commenced her studies with the maestro, she followed him to London, and soon obtained high standing as a mezzo-soprano concert singer.

From Garcia the Centenarian And His Times Being a Memoir of Manuel Garcia's Life and Labours for the Advancement of Music and Science by Mackinlay, M. (Malcolm) Sterling