Soubrette is a term referring to a type of female role —specifically, a stock character —in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy". This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Provençal (Provençau) is one of several dialects of Occitan spoken by a minority of people in southern France and other areas of France and Italy. ...

In classical music and opera, it describes an operatic voice type - a light soprano voice with a bright, sweet timbre and a tessitura in the mid-range. In opera, this voice often plays comedic, saucy, but likable characters, and some soubrettes can also sing lyric coloratura roles such as Gilda or Norina. In addition, baroque music, early music and baroque opera, as well as many art songs, all call for this kind of beautiful, light voice. Soubrette roles in turn may be performed by light lyric and lyric coloratura voices, and sometimes by mezzo-sopranos as well. Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... Voice type, often called Fach (pl. ... This article is about the singing voice part. ... In music, timbre, or sometimes timber, (from Fr. ... In music, tessitura (Italian: texture) is a range of pitches compared to the instrument for which it was intended to be used. ... Baroque music describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750. ... Early music is commonly defined as European classical music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque. ... The term Baroque Opera refers to operas written in the 17th Century up until the mid 18th Century. ... An art song is a vocal music composition, usually written for one singer with piano accompaniment. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that...

In theatre, the term describes a comedy character who is vain and girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish and gossipy - often a chambermaid or confidante of the ingenue, she often displays a flirtatious or even sexually aggressive nature. Such characters appeared in commedia dell'arte scenarios, often in the role of Columbina, where the actress would provide the details of her behavior and dialogue. From there, she moved to the works of Molière, which were influenced by commedia; the role of Dorine in Tartuffe (1664) fits the description. A famous example, though a hundred years later, is the role of Suzanne in Beaumarchais' Le Mariage de Figaro (1784). Mary Pickford, a perpetual ingenue The Ingenue is a stock character in literature and film and a role type in the theatre, generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent. ... Commedia redirects here. ... This article is about the theatrical character. ... Molière, engraved on the frontispiece to his Works. ... For the film of the same name, see Tartuffe (film) Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière, and arguably his most famous play. ... Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (January 24, 1732 - May 18, 1799) was, among other accomplishments, a writer and librettist. ...

Most operettas include such a character, for example Valencienne in The Merry Widow. In Gilbert and Sullivan, the Jessie Bond mezzo-soprano roles such as Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore) and Lady Angela (Patience) are considered soubrettes. Another example is the character Ellie Mae Chipley, who sings "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" in Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat. For the ballet, see The Merry Widow (ballet). ... W. S. Gilbert Arthur Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era partnership of librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). ... Jessie Bond (January 10, 1853–June 17, 1942) was an English singer and actress best known for creating most of the mezzo-soprano soubrette roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... Wikisource has original text related to this article: HMS Pinafore H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass that Loved a Sailor, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. ... Patience, engraving by Hans Sebald Beham, 1540 Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Patience Patience is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. ... For films based on the musical, see Show Boat (film). ...

Soubrette roles in operas and operettas

• Adele, Die Fledermaus
• Blondchen, Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart)
• Despina, Così fan tutte (Mozart) -- Sometimes performed by lyric mezzo-sopranos.
• Nannetta, Falstaff (Verdi)
• Zerlina, Don Giovanni (Mozart) -- Sometimes performed by lyric mezzo-sopranos.
• Ännchen, "Der Freischütz" (Carl Maria von Weber)

Scene from the 1984 version. ... Die Entführung aus dem Serail (K. 384; in English The Abduction from the Seraglio; also known as Il Seraglio) is a opera Singspiel in three acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti, K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... For other uses, see Falstaff (disambiguation). ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... Don Giovanni (K.527; complete title: Il dissoluto punito, ossia il Don Giovanni, literally The Rake Punishd, or Don Giovanni) is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... Der Freischütz (English: The Freeshooter) is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber to a libretto by Friedrich Kind. ... Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst, Freiherr von Weber (November 18, 1786 in Eutin, Holstein – June 5, 1826 in London, England) was a German composer, conductor, pianist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school. ...

Notable operatic soubrettes

• Elisabeth Schumann
• Kathleen Battle
• Barbara Bonney
• Dawn Upshaw

Elisabeth Schumann (1888 - 1952) was a celebrated German soprano who sang in opera, operetta, oratorio and lieder and left a rich legacy of recordings. ... Kathleen Battle (b. ... Barbara Bonney (born April 14, 1956) is an American soprano opera singer. ... Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960 in Nashville, Tennessee), is an American soprano. ...

Contemporary and crossover soubrettes

Singers include: Britney Spears, Ciara, Vanessa Hudgens, Robyn, Debbie Gibson, Vanessa L. Williams, Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Tara Kemp, Emma Bunton, Mandy Moore, Ashanti, and Jennifer Lopez Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Grammy Award-winning[1] American pop singer, dancer, actress, author and songwriter. ... Ciara (born Ciara Princess Harris on October 25, 1985 in Austin, Texas)(IPA pronunciation: [1])is a Grammy Award-winning American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and occasional actress. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Vanessa Anne Hudgens. ... For the given name, see Robin (name). ... Deborah Ann Gibson (born August 31, 1970) is an American singer who was, along with Tiffany in the late 1980s, a very popular teen idol who appeared on the cover of teen magazines such as Tiger Beat multiple times. ... For other persons of the same name, see Vanessa Williams. ... Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, and spokesperson. ... Haylie Katherine Duff (born February 19, 1985) is an American actress and singer best known for her supporting role on 7th Heaven as well as starring in the films Material Girls and Napoleon Dynamite. ... Tara Leslye Kemp (born 11 May 1970, Livermore, California) is an American pop and R&B singer. ... Emma Lee Bunton (born 21 January 1976) is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. ... Amanda Mandy Leigh Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980), better known as Ashanti, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer, model, and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. ... For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ...

See also

• Opera
• List of important operas
• Voice type
• Soprano
• French maid

For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... This list provides a guide to the most important operas, as determined by their presence on a majority of compiled lists of significant operas: see the Lists Consulted section for full details. ... Voice type, often called Fach (pl. ... This article is about the singing voice part. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

External links

• Collection of public domain scores (Indiana U)
• International Music Score Library Project
• Smaller collection of public domain scores (Harvard)
• Collection of librettos and translations
• Collection of librettos (Karadar)
• Collection of librettos (Stanford)
• Verdi librettos
• German/English Wagner librettos
• Aria database

References

• Freedictionary definition
• Origins of the term
• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Description of a soubrette in opera
• Another explanation of the opera character