Soubrette
A light, bright soprano for comic roles.
What it means
The soubrette is a voice type for a light, bright soprano tied to a particular kind of role: usually cheerful, often mischievous or cunning young female characters, frequently maids or servants.
The term thus denotes both a vocal range and a role type that traditionally belong together.
Musical use
Typical soubrette roles include Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte or Adele in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus: witty, quick-tongued characters who often demand comic talent and physical agility.
Vocally the soubrette needs a light, agile soprano aimed not at great dramatic power but at clarity, nimbleness, and clear diction.
The soubrette should be distinguished from the lyric soprano, who embodies more serious, loving female characters, and from the coloratura soprano, whose technical virtuosity takes center stage, whereas for the soubrette the comic character is central.
Performance practice
As a soubrette, work on clear articulation and comic timing, since text and acting matter as much as pure singing. Keep the voice light and agile rather than forcing it toward great dramatic power.