Top 10 Roles Every Soprano Wants

MsMojo

Every soprano wants these roles. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the parts that Sopranos would give anything to play.

Transcript

00:00These things are sent to try us.

00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the parts that sopranos

00:09would give anything to play.

00:11I could have spread my wings and done a thousand things I've never done before.

00:27Number 10.

00:28Phoebe Dysquith, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

00:43Any soprano would kill to play this part.

00:45In the thrilling musical comedy, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Phoebe Dysquith

00:49is one of two leading ladies.

00:51Any performer who is lucky enough to be cast in the role has some dangerously delicious

00:55material to work with.

01:09Trapped in a tricky love triangle, the character allows sopranos an opportunity to get in touch

01:14with their funny side.

01:15This is especially true in the musically complex trio tune I've Decided to Marry You.

01:29Sopranos also relish the comedic opportunities the character presents, something which isn't

01:33always true in leading lady roles.

01:36It's a bucket list role for every soprano.

01:38Number 9.

01:39Katherine Howard, Six.

01:54Following the famous Six Wives of Henry VIII as they compete in a singing contest, the

01:59show offers up many fabulous roles for female-identifying performers.

02:02However, there is one part that every soprano eyes, and that is Katherine Howard.

02:21Inspired by both Ariana Grande and Britney Spears, Howard requires a performer who can

02:26sing as high as the heavens and beyond.

02:28Not only that, but playing her also demands an emotional range that packs a mighty punch.

02:33It's no wonder that all sopranos wanna do is play this highly coveted role.

02:52Number 8.

02:53Clara Johnson, The Light in the Piazza.

03:08Originated on Broadway by the one and only Kelly O'Hara, the character of Clara Johnson

03:13from The Light in the Piazza is a gift to sopranos.

03:16Mixing traditional theater, classical music, and opera into a stunning whole, the Adam

03:21Gettl score is not for the faint of heart.

03:35The highest note for Clara is an A5, with her lowest note being A3.

03:39The part demands a highly skilled singer with proper technique and years of training under

03:43their belt.

03:44In addition, the dramatic demands of the role also require an assured and sensitive performer.

03:49Luckily, future Claras have examples such as O'Hara and Dove Cameron to inspire them

03:53on their journey.

04:02Number 7.

04:03Cinderella, Into the Woods.

04:14Stephen Sondheim wrote countless soprano roles over the course of his illustrious career,

04:19and one of his most famous is Cinderella in Into the Woods.

04:22The part is a dream come true for many musical theater performers.

04:25Spinning the iconic character on her head, providing her with agency and depth, this

04:30runaway princess is the heart and soul of the show.

04:33Singing the powerful lyrics of No One Is Alone is a moment that many sopranos long

04:37for.

04:51The chance to play her emotional rags-to-riches storyline is highly competitive, which has

04:55resulted in happily-ever-afters for performers such as Anna Kendrick, Christa Rodriguez,

05:00and Philippa Soo.

05:11Number 6.

05:12Joanna Barker, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

05:25Sweeney Todd's Joanna Barker is in some ways the ultimate ingenue role.

05:29She's kind, innocent, and has the voice of an angel.

05:36However, at just 16 years old, she's forced to quickly grow up when she's thrust into

05:52the homicidal horrors that are plaguing London's Fleet Street.

05:55It's a part that is the perfect balance of both high-wire acting and singing.

05:59Take for instance her signature song, Green Finch and Linnet Bird.

06:03Crafted for sopranos, it requires performers to almost emulate the high-pitched vocals

06:07of the bird she sings about.

06:09And that's no easier than it sounds.

06:26Number 5.

06:27Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton, Hamilton.

06:40One of the most notable soprano roles to hit the stage in recent years is none other than

06:44Hamilton's leading lady, Eliza Schuyler.

06:47Based on the real-life American philanthropist and wife of founding father Alexander Hamilton,

06:51Eliza, as the main character, has it all and more.

06:55Lots of memorable songs, a wealth of emotional depth, and she even closes the show.

07:00From Burn to That Would Be Enough, she is the beating pulse of this musical phenomenon.

07:16How lucky sopranos are to be alive right now to portray her.

07:31Number 4.

07:32Cosette, Les Miserables.

07:41One of the biggest musicals of all time, Les Miserables is a theatrical epic with a giant

07:47cast of characters.

07:48There's something for all actors.

07:49But sopranos need to look no further than Cosette, the musical's ingenue extraordinaire.

08:05Younger performers can shine on Castle on a Cloud, and In My Life provides more experienced

08:10sopranos with a chance to really let their vocals shine.

08:22With a sweet and kind disposition, Cosette is a beacon of hope and light despite the

08:27production's sad and harrowing plot.

08:32In fact, she is even the face of the show.

08:35Number 3.

08:36Maria, West Side Story.

08:50For sopranos, West Side Story's Maria is the most beautiful sound they've ever heard.

08:54From Carol Lawrence to Natalie Wood to Rachel Zegler, this role is the gift that keeps on

08:59giving and giving.

09:00As most know, the show is a contemporary take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

09:05Maria is one half of an ill-fated young and intense love story where the stakes are as

09:09high as her notes.

09:26She's the voice behind memorable musical theater classics like I Feel Pretty and Tonight.

09:30And the beauty of the music and lyrics and the emotions at play make the role an irresistible

09:36challenge.

09:37It's totally understandable why sopranos would give it all to play her.

09:52Number 2.

09:53Christine Daae, The Phantom of the Opera.

10:05She is musical theater's angel of music and every soprano's dream.

10:09The Phantom of the Opera's Christine Daae is a role that not only requires a performer

10:13to be a knockout vocalist, but also a triple threat.

10:31Between her singing, dancing, and acting, her talents are limitless.

10:36For 30-plus years, The Phantom haunted Broadway and the West End, and many sopranos earned

10:40the opportunity to lend their operatic vocals to the demanding role.

10:57Time will only tell if this mega-musical will return to the Great White Way, but if

11:02and when it does, there will be a whole new generation of Christines waiting in the wings.

11:24Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

11:28Hope Cladwell, You're in Town.

11:30This role has a lot of hopefuls waiting to play her.

11:48Natasha, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.

11:52Fans can't wait to travel back to 19th century Russia for this part.

12:06Francesca Johnson, The Bridges of Madison County.

12:09This part proves being a soprano is always better.

12:26Sarah Brown, Guys and Dolls.

12:29Ding dong, sopranos are knocking down all the doors to play this part.

12:47Jane Doe, Ride the Cyclone.

12:49This gravity-defying role isn't for the faint of heart.

13:19Glinda, Wicked.

13:35For over 20 years, Wicked has been a major part of the Broadway zeitgeist.

13:39In 2003, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown Tony Award winner Kristen Chenoweth originated

13:44the role of Glinda, thus creating a part that would inspire young sopranos to pursue

13:48musical theater with a vengeance.

13:50The ditzy, bubbly, and comedic role isn't just all fun and games.

13:54Glinda has a lot of emotional depth and goes through plenty of character development, especially

13:59in the second act of the show.

14:11It's no surprise that she's one of the most popular soprano roles ever created.

14:26Which one of these soprano roles would be a dream of yours to play?

14:29Let us know in the comments.

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