Dramatic Soprano

Dramatic sopranos are capable of sustained declamation and a great deal of power, even over an orchestra of about 80 instruments.

In this clip from Puccini’s final opera, Turandot, the man-hating princess Turandot gives a suitor (Prince Calaf) the first of three riddles which he must answer correctly to win her hand. If he answers incorrectly, he is to die a gruesome death. Listen for steam-roller strength in this soprano’s voice. Sung in Italian.

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This excerpt is from Nashville Opera’s 2006 production of Puccini’s Turandot.

Other dramatic soprano roles: Salome (Strauss’s Salome), Brunnhilde (Wagner’s Gotterdammerung), Isolde (Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde).