What is the difference between a soprano and a mezzo-soprano?

Actually, I'd like to see a more complete listing of the various operatic voices, as I've never understood how they relate to one another. :yes:

And, while I'm sticking my nose into your thread, I'm going to move it to the music forum... ain't that just like me?

What is the difference between a soprano and a mezzo-soprano?

A mezzo has a somewhat darker, lower-pitched tone, and a range that doesn't extend quite as high as a soprano. For a complete list, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range

Same root as mezzanine, which is "an intermediate level between main floors". The mezzo-sprano has a voice that is between a standard alto and soprano - thus the mezzo designation.

RichPa and Ozmoid thank you both for the explanation and the link. As a lover of voice, especially the female voice(Renee Fleming, Kathleen Battle, Joan Sutherland, Jessye Norman, Marion Anderson) I find the distinction meaningless to my untrained ear. They all sound like they are in the same range to me. To make matters worse I know that old age takes its toll on hearing.

I thought it meant that if someone whacked you in the mezzo balls, your voice suddenly became soprano! Or is that mazzo balls? Wait - that's food........

Matzo balls! http://forum.mambo-foundation.org/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.mambo-foundation.org/images/smilies/pound.gif