mezzo-sopranon.adj.
/ˌmɛtsəʊ səˈprɑːnəʊ/, /ˌmɛdzəʊ səˈprɑːnəʊ/, U.S. /ˈˌmɛtsoʊ səˈprɑnoʊ/, /ˈˌmɛ(d)zoʊ səˈprɑnoʊ/, /ˈˌmɛtsoʊ səˈprænoʊ/, /ˈˌmɛ(d)zoʊ səˈprænoʊ/ Music.
A. n.† 1. The vocal range intermediate in compass between soprano and contralto; a part written in this range. Obsolete.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > part-song > a part in > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1740
1740 J. Grassineau tr. S. De Brossard Musical Dict. 131 Mezzo, signifies half, and is often found in composition with some other word; as, mezzo soprano, is the haut centre, or high tenor, which has the cleff C sol ut on the second line.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Mezzo Soprano, in the Italian music, is the high tenor, which has the cleff C on the second line.
2. A voice having this compass.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [noun] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1838
mezzo1874
1838 Southern Literary Messenger 4 674 Her voice, which, if I recollect right, was what is called a mezzo soprano..was one of great volume.
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 24 Apr. 10 She has a moderate mezzo soprano, rather reedy and screechy in its upper notes.
1941 Y. W. Vance tr. P. Stefan Anton Dvořák iv. 275 He took particular delight in the beautiful mezzo-soprano of his daughter, Magda, inherited from her mother.
1991 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Jan. 96/2 It is a vibrant mezzo-soprano, velvet in texture.
3. A singer having a voice of this compass.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > singer > singer by type of voice > [noun] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1861
mezzo1874
1861 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) 4 239 ‘How do you like our mezzo-soprano?’ asked a member of a well-known musical church up town of his friend.
1878 T. Helmore Catech. Mus. xliii. 84 The contraltos and mezzo-sopranos may sing the bass an octave higher in the exercises.
1883 G. Grove Dict. Music III. 635 Many mezzo-soprani can sing higher notes than many soprani.
a1967 J. R. Ackerley My Father & Myself (1971) i. 10 She was..a mezzo-soprano of concert platform and operatic standard.
1982 H. Rosenthal My Mad World of Opera vi. 65 Arriving in Rome..enabled me to hear Giordano's Fedora with the splendid mezzo-soprano, Gianna Pederzini, in the title rôle.
B. adj.
(attributive). Designating, relating to, or intended for a mezzo-soprano, or the mezzo-soprano register.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1789
mezzo1832
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music IV. vi. 319 To enable my readers to form an idea of..these..singers, I shall insert here the character drawn of them by..the late Mr Quantz, who was frequently present at the performance..during its first run, 1727... ‘Faustino had a mezzo-soprano voice, that was less clear than penetrating.’
1806 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music (ed. 2) Mezzo Soprano Cliff, the name given to the Cliff when placed on the first line of the stave, in order to accommodate the Mezzo Soprano voice.
1885 M. E. Braddon Wyllard's Weird I. iii. 94 Hilda had a superb mezzo-soprano voice.
1958 Times 31 Oct. 3/5 Her voice is of a rich mezzo-soprano quality, not outsize, but certainly amply big enough for most lieder.
1990 E. Forsey Life on Fringe (BNC) She had a fine mezzo-soprano voice.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1740