#mezzo - soprano

[rhapsodynew]

REMEMBERING JANIS JOPLIN...

JANUARY 19TH 1943 - OCTOBER 4TH 1970... R.I.P.

Eternal memory of the Queen of the Blues.

[higherentity]

[very-grownup]

Over on bluesky I got a reminder of this, one of the many highlights of the 2019/2020 Met production of Handel's Agrippina, with Kate Lindsey as supreme fuckboy Nerone. A masterclass in full body performance and lung capacity and she's just so fucking good.

[tato-acm]

domingo - 01. 10. 2023

Lovable mezzo-sopranos 🩵🎵

The fact that SJM has always loved Taylor Swift - and now her son is obsessed with her too (that’s so freaking cute 🤏🥹✨mini swiftie)

"Taran is obsessed with Taylor Swift. Aren't we all?" "I've always loved her. I think she's an incredible creator and like businesswoman and I have so much respect for her." “But now that Taran is obsessed with her- like, we've only listened to her music in the car. That's it, like all summer long."

I also love TS and I LOVE that SJM made Gwyn a mezzo-soprano too so that I can imagine Gwyn singing every time I listen to a Taylor Swift song 🥹🩵

my favorite mezzo-sopranos 🥰🙌

acosf - chapter 52

Gwyn’s playlist (mezzo-soprano artists - mostly TS 😌)

[determinedowl23]

Question for altos and mezzo sopranos: what’s your vocal range? And does your primary form of vocal practicing come chorus, musical theatre, opera, or somewhere else?

I’m a theatre kid who just joined a choir relatively recently, and aside from noticing my vocal style was very different than my friend. What we had in common, though, is that our range was VERY similar- the thing was that she was an alto and I’m a mezzo soprano. Every time I mentioned the phrase “mezzo soprano” to my choir director whenever he asked what my range was, he seemed to need to process that and then asked me to do the alto part. That made me feel like the concept of a mezzo soprano is more of a theatre and opera thing than in choir, but please correct me if I’m wrong!

The real reason I’m asking these questions is because in my musical theatre class, me and a group of other people are performing a song that has a soprano part. The leader of the group asked “so can anybody hit that note or are we all altos?” I told them that I could hit the note (E5, which I can hit relatively easily) and so they assigned me that role. That made me remember my friend from choir who occasionally sung higher notes that were around E5 and was also an alto. So now I’m just confused and wondering what the guidelines are to being an alto vs a mezzo soprano and whether those guidelines in a choir vs theatre vs opera vs anywhere else

I don’t actually know my full range off the top of my head, but I think it’s somewhere around F#3-G#5 (I can reach an E3 sometimes but not consistently enough that I’d consider it in my range) but I’ll update this if I find a more concrete answer to my own range

[mrbacf]

Giulio Cesare, HWV 17, Act 3: "Da tempeste il legno infranto" (Cleopatra)

[sadiegirl2021]

DAY THREE - PRIESTESS

I wanted to imagine how Nesta felt in the moment when she was listening to Gwyn singing with the other priestesses. I found this album that fits so perfectly with how she describes it. Even the song names are so Gwyn!

@gwynweekofficial

_______

It was like a braid, the song—a plait of seven voices, weaving in and out, individual strands that together formed a pattern.

But Gwyn’s voice rose above them all, clear and powerful and yet husky on some notes. A mezzo-soprano.

Gwyn’s voice soared like a bird through the cavern as she started the third song with a solo, and Nesta closed her eyes, leaning into the music, shutting out one sense in order to luxuriate in the sound of her friend.

[davidtennantgenderenvy]

So proud of the work I’ve gotten to do on my collegiate opera debut! Iolanthe opens TONIGHT, and I can’t wait to introduce everyone to my interpretation of this sweet, courageous and free spirited fairy that I’ve grown to love so much.

[th3-0bjectivist]

Dear listener, I understand that having a white dude on Tumblr recommending excellent black music makes about as much initial sense as me suggesting that you upgrade your home to cutting-edge VCR and landline phone technologies. Given the current racial tensions in the US right now, all I ask is that you give this white boy’s recommendation the old community college try. This week the focus will be on Santigold, a cross-genre artist that deserves way more attention than is afforded to her. I’ve been listening to Santigold’s music for nearly a decade, and I’ve said it before, but you guys can keep your Cardi B’s and your Nikki Minaj’s because when I’m hungry for excellent music, I come to the table for something rare, experimental, smart and versatile. Santigold delivers all of that, and more. Smash play on Look At These Hoes from her 2012 album Master of My Make-Believe, and if it pleases you, join me for rolling fields of gold below.

A genuine music industry trailblazer, Santi White started off her career as a mere A&R (her job was to find promising new artists and bring them in to sign contracts) for Epic Records. This Philadelphia-born multitalented maven started collaborating with musicians, and then in 2001 became the lead singer in a ska band called Stiffed. The best part of this group’s music was the vocals and lyrics, and after disbanding in 2005 or so, Ms White embarked upon her solo career. A solo career that has lasted nearly two decades to this year. There’s an island vibe to her music, and I’m not just talking about the style. Her music feels different than anything mainstream in terms of raw brain-power, exceptional flow and overall depth of meaning. She makes music that thinks as much as it works to go against the mainstream grain. She deserves respect and legitimate accolades for sticking to her guns and staying genuine through her career, rather than selling out and producing the equivalent of another WAP just for the sake of raking in millions from people with questionable taste in music. Along with having a sultry mezzo-soprano voice (my personal favorite lady voice type) her style is a mishmash of hip-hop, new wave, punk and electro. If you listen to her jams and don’t find your head and body bobbing to her beats, I believe I can officially pronounce that you have no actual soul in your body! If you spend any time at all studying the deeper meaning behind her jams, you will find complex themes of resilience, perception of reality and an overall complexity of character which few, if any ‘similar’ artists can even approach without immediately appearing to be outside of their mental depth. Just below you’ll find the music video for L.E.S. Artistes from her 2008 album Santogold. Enjoy!

As the first song on this post strongly suggests, Santi White ain’t no booty hoe. She’s highly educated, she’s a mother, and in terms of eloquence of execution… she’s an absolute industry badass. You owe it to yourself to take a deep dive into Santigold’s catalog and I implore you to revere artists like her as the mega-talents they truly are. Image source: https://tomtommag.com/2012/05/brooklyns-golden-child-santigold/

[pedrospookie]

not Pedro related 🫠

trying to build a career in the arts is v hard and while part of me is super relieved to be free for the first summer in almost 5 years, I am also super gutted! and I feel like a failure! even though I didn’t do anything wrong!

maybe I could have tried harder? maybe I could have pushed myself more? but I did that last year and I nearly killed myself doing it — my mental health was so horrific and my cards were maxed, I was clinically burned out and I am still recovering from that physical and emotional damage.

I keep being told to keep going and that there’s a place for me in this industry, and I believe it, I look at Pedro and think “it took this INCREDIBLE actor 20 years of grinding to become the popular artist that he is”, and I’m not even chasing that level of busy. (It doesn’t exist in opera lol)

but fuck these years in the trenches are tough and make me really think long and hard about. I love what I do, but this last year has made me feel less in love and more committed, like any long term relationship or vocation. the choosing to commit every day.

anyway, I got told to please fuck off for my final summer application/audition (for an opportunity that I was specifically asked to apply for) and now I am grumpy because for the first time in years I won’t have summer plans. and it won’t last and I’ll move on and maybe??? I’ll finally get to visit some family on the east coast and learn to catch lobster! do some things that I’ve been wanting to do away from the stage. run that 10k I’ve been telling myself I’ll train for, idk! something!

limbo feels weird and I need to vent. thnx u if you made it this far. go listen to an opera, if you can. support the arts! support artists!

[rhapsodynew]

#A rock suitcase forgotten in the basement

At the beginning of glorious deeds!

1967

Repetition

Janis Joplin - Big Brother & The Holding Co.

Photo by Bob Zigerman

One of the best blues singers of all time.

Janice has not been with us for more than half a century, but her performance is a delight.

For the era of the 60s, this is a breakthrough in Rock and Roll music. 👏👏👏🎼🎤

A bright memory.

Music is eternal, it lives in our heart.

[higherentity]

[auditionsuggestions]

hello!

I’m looking forward to a production of Into the Woods. I’m a teenager in high school and the eldest person auditioning. I don’t know much about singing. My range is G5-A3. Apparently my voice is very sweet sounding and whenever I sing I sound sad.

My main question is knowing which role to go for and maybe recommendations for the song for the role. I’m sorry if this is too much to ask. Also if you have any additional questions please ask.

That's exciting! Based on your range and the description you've given, Little Red, Jack's Mother, and Cindy's Step Family (Step mother, Florinda, and Lucinda) are all within your range (Granny is also possible, but since she only really sings in an ensemble capacity, we'll leave her out in terms of audition material). Sweet and sad may also get you considered for Cinderella's Mother (a little high for you as it goes up to an A5, but don't count yourself out. A whole step is a totally possible stretch to make at that place in the voice. And if you can stretch up to that, Rapunzel is also possible and fitting for your tone quality).

For Little Red: The Glamorous Life from A Little Night Music (the film version--one of the few good things about that film adaptation. Audra McDonald has a beautiful rendition you can reference); Everlasting from Tuck Everlasting; or, if you can find a solo cut, I Know It's Today from Shrek (this cut of Morning Person would also work well)

For Jack's Mother and/or Cinderella's Stepmother: Wait from Sweeney Todd or Sensitivity from Once Upon a Mattress

Cinderella's Mother/Rapunzel: Come to my Garden from the Secret Garden or One More Kiss from Follies.

Florinda/Lucinda: Stepsister's Lament from the R&H Cinderella (very on the nose as a choice, but fun) or (perhaps a little young and bratty, but so very step sisters) I Want it Now from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

As for which one to go for, that's something I can't really advise on without knowing how tall you are compared to the other kids auditioning, how old you read next to them, actually hearing your voice, etc. Go for the role that most speaks to you.

Break a leg!

[lazydestinynight]

"Sine Titulo" Zdzisław Beksiński

[a-three-part-mini-opera]

does anyone know like an app that actually helps you sing better or something?? Cause I had a voice teacher but now I'm too broke and i still suck at singing

[fictionalvillainenjoyer]

Contraltos deserve SO MUCH more rep in musical theatre.

Sopranos, Mezzos, and Altos take all the roles, even if some are considered “crappy”, and leave Contraltos with, if my memory serves me correctly, FIVE characters (four of them being matriarchal roles that, unless it’s a school or very small community theatre, a younger Contralto won’t be cast in).

This usually would be fine if gender blind casting was prevalent (I myself just default to Tenor songs anyway so I can be age appropriate) but it isn’t.

And then when Contraltos ask for more roles written in their range the excuses pile up from every which way. Ranging from “Contraltos are too rare to write more roles for them”, which is completely false, to “the Contralto and Alto aren’t that different you can just sing an Alto song” which isn’t true and contributes to Contraltos damaging their vocal chords to just “become an Alto”.

And was I being pessimistic saying there are only five roles? Potentially. But let’s be generous and says there’s ten-twelve, half of those characters are from shows that are rarely performed anymore.