WordNet
n. a lyric soprano who specializes in coloratura vocal music [syn: coloratura]
Wikipedia
A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs, leaps and trills.
The term coloratura refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component of the music written for this voice. Within the coloratura category, there are roles written specifically for lighter voices known as lyric coloraturas and others for larger voices known as dramatic coloraturas. Some roles may be sung by either voice. For example, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor was famously done at the Metropolitan Opera for many years by lyric coloratura Lily Pons, whose voice was quite small and light, but more recently the same role was sung there by Ruth Ann Swenson whose voice is larger and duskier, and even more dramatic by Maria Callas who has cast a long shadow. Categories within a certain vocal range are determined by the size, weight and color of the voice.
Usage examples of "coloratura soprano".
If the horse has been given an enema an hour before curtain time, and there are enough people to lead it, even a coloratura soprano should be able to stick on its back long enough for a very pretty effect.
The Mother Thing had a real name, too, but I'm not a coloratura soprano.
The suspicion turned to rage and humiliation when Lavelle looked at the machine's display and laughed, in a descending arpeggio, like a coloratura soprano.