# Who are some of your favorite Classical or Pop Sopranos? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491 "2011-02-15T20:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/1 "2011-02-15T20:00:05Z")
They are called the voices of the Angels. I find the purity of the soprano voice relaxing after a stressful day. I can’t stay in a foul mood for long when they sing. It helps that sopranos no longer come in 350 lb packages. 😃 Modern singers like Hayley Westenra and Katherine Jenkins are gorgeous. I prefer crossover artists that do pop and classical. I’m still discovering new artists. Can you share some of your favorite sopranos? Maybe link a youtube with a sample of their work? Thanks. 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/2 "2011-02-15T20:01:27Z")
I like some classical but definitely not opera. I prefer pop. The more popular sopranos blend classical and pop in their recordings. I enjoy Katherine Jenkins pop album _Believe_. Her other albums _Rejoice_ and _Living a Dream_ are also more classical favorites. Bring Me to Life [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SzKdRf4bS1Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Katherine Jenkins - Bring me to life - new video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzKdRf4bS1Y) Love Never Dies [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d-inXoiTnfI/hqdefault.jpg "Katherine Jenkins - Love Never Dies - Official Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-inXoiTnfI) Hayley Westenra is another favorite. I love her albums Pure and Odyssey. She sang with Celtic Woman for awhile. My Heart Belongs To You [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcy2zOsmK48) Never Say Goodbye [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlpxJO1Uiw) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/3 "2011-02-15T22:38:53Z")
Ha, too easy. Give me an inch… She has a 4-octave range so you (usually) have to take the low with the high, but here are a few songs you may or may not like. She’s not a classical “soprano” but I don’t really know the word for her high voice. If you do, please give me a name for it. [“Temporary and Eternal”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiIqnvFAoHs) [“When The Rain Came Down”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zzcMmfGBjY) [“The Wretches Gone Awry”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hkNT4hdRdA) (a song she wrote and recorded when she was very young) [“Lily of the Valley/Possessed”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDu8xn6jxOY) (the first part is a Queen cover, where she sings one of her highest notes ever, by mistake) [“I Have A Heart”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWMtG7FMBgs) (another very early song) [“Life On Mars”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgBoSFufTiE) (not a Bowie cover) [“Summer”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0pIbzyVwU) [“Find Me”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlX-fj34n6Q) (one of her most recent, which is not all that recent) There’s more, much more, where those came from (she has 11 albums), but I’vec been accused of overwhelming people with too many links, so I’ll stop. For today. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/4 "2011-02-16T00:26:45Z")
I’m not an opera fan, but my love of medieval and Sephardic music led me to discover [Montserrat Figueras](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_Figueras), whose voice I would kill for. It’s so mobile and so rich at the same time. Here she sings [Yo soy la locura](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xLFw3QbMQ), a Catalunian song (she comes in around 0:20). She sings often with her husband, early music specialist [Jordi Savall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordi_Savall). Another clip: Montserrat Figueras singing [Alma, buscarte has en mí](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQcenVpWA84), written by St. Teresa of Avila. So beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/5 "2011-02-16T00:46:06Z")
[Audra MacDonald](http://www.google.com/search?q=audra+macdonald&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=audra+macdonald&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=FgB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnso&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=GB5bTd-vCYX2tgOYmImiCg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CDcQqwQwAQ&fp=e5bcb1231f31d689). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/6 "2011-02-16T02:02:24Z")
Sarah McLachlan is a popular mezzo-soprano. AFIK she only does popular music. She has a nice voice. Writes a lot of of her own material. I Will Remember You [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nSz16ngdsG0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGEEgPih_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLAHIQG-Q74QRSTE77hCdANoxyRPYA "sarah mclachlan - i will remember you") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSz16ngdsG0) Angel [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7CbAjj80NIM/hqdefault.jpg "Angel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CbAjj80NIM) ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/7 "2011-02-16T02:14:43Z")
I rather like Sarah Brightman, she’s done several different styles. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/8 "2011-02-16T02:21:52Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > I rather like Sarah Brightman, she’s done several different styles. Yeah Brightman’s basically the queen of the classical crossover genre. If you enjoy the genre you MUST have heard of her. Ex-wife of ALW; Phantom of the Opera was basically written FOR her voice. And there’s a budding young artist named Jackie Evancho, you should really check her out. Her vocal cords are literally one in a billion (or less), even disregarding her age. She’s 10. She got noticed through America’s Got Talent (though she came in second place, I put it down to bad taste) and now she has a record deal with Columbia. There’s a baller (live) duet with Evancho and Brightman on youtube. Just google it. It’ll blow your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/9 "2011-02-16T03:32:21Z")
[Tarja Turunen from Nightwish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tarja_Turunen_at_Obras_Stadium_2008_03.jpg) [Simone Simons from Epica](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Epica_simone_simons_smi.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/10 "2011-02-16T04:39:06Z")
I love Kristin Chenoweth (and not just for her voice 😉 ). And, at 4’11" and 98 pounds, she definitely fits the “sopranos aren’t always huge anymore” mold. [“Popular” from “Wicked”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsKH2tqoFJ8) [“Hopelessly Devoted to You” (the old Olivia Newton-John song) from “Pushing Daisies”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TLEUbi5TZo) [“I Say a Little Prayer” from “Promises, Promises”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uJJE19ROec) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/11 "2011-02-16T04:51:48Z")
I almost forgot Charlotte Church. :eek: I love her version of Ave Maria [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8g6Tqqc6DQ) her version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oh4jmpggs04/hqdefault.jpg "Charlotte Church-Somewhere over the rainbow") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh4jmpggs04) She switched to popular music a few years ago. She’s got an amazing voice. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/12 "2011-02-16T04:55:17Z")
Classical: Paulie Walnuts Pop: Christopher Moltisanti sorry ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/13 "2011-02-16T13:15:57Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > [Audra MacDonald](http://www.google.com/search?q=audra+macdonald&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=audra+macdonald&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=FgB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnso&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=GB5bTd-vCYX2tgOYmImiCg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CDcQqwQwAQ&fp=e5bcb1231f31d689). Yes, I love Audra McDonald. Also, Maureen McGovern. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/14 "2013-10-26T14:06:03Z")
Jackie Evancho is my current favourite, she can do no wrong, but as **Equipoise** has attested, Happy Rhodes is unbelievable with her extreme range. [Sissel Kyrkebo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSKnkqAOhpA) is quite amazing except for her choice of a lot of her material, as with Hayley Westenra. I’m grateful to them though for indirectly leading me to Jackie Evancho. Love this by Hayley and Russell Watson - [Pokareke Ana](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKJBjZPpC7E). Then there is [Inva Mula](http://www.youtube.com/channel/HC-hkU8S6bT8s) who sang the part of the [Diva Plavalaguna](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPf2ANjUbrY) in “The 5th ELement” Also an absolute delight is Ana Netrebko, here singing [Solveig’s Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AZL0FcQDV0) from Per Gynt. And with her friend Elina Garanco singing the [Flower Duet from](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf42IP__ipw) Lakmé. They do an amazing [Barcarolle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI) too. Elina Garanca is a force to be reckoned with on her own, for example here with [Habanera](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFUKsv1epk). As has been mentioned it isn’t necessary to have the proportions of an hippopotamus to be able to sing well and these ladies all underscore that fact. Elina looks like someone you wouldn’t want to tangle with though. A very icy beauty about her. The star of them all is Jackie though. Astounding at ten years old she seems to be improving day by day and who knows what the future may bring, she seems capable of almost anything and multi-talented with it. A couple of examples: With [David Foster](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRmTo44Sve0) in Las Vegas. [Nessun Dorma](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzSfx2IKafs). If that doesn’t reduce you to tears then your heart is made of stone. She can do pop too: [Brige Over Troubled Water](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLDkSr38BhU)! [Angel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InyxrCGkqxY). She certainly is! [Lovers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhVWHDxdd-U). [Dark Waltz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSU7XWyuy7A), written for Hayley westenra I believe but IMO Jackie excels. [National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6bE6GyYqiE) Whatever she does she immerses herself in it completely. There are so many more fine examples and I have emulated **Equipoise** in the link overload. Can’t have too much Evancho though. Here is a recent thing that is completely different but shows what an unspoiled girl she is. [You’ll Miss Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmeyznol7_c) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/15 "2013-10-26T20:53:04Z")
I should apologise for missing out on another young prodigy, Faryl Smith. Again a wonderful voice at a very early age and is developing into a very beautiful young woman. [Barcarolle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5l2BOosV8I) [Calon Lan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYfzc2taG50) not the best recording unfortunately. [River Of Light](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dl2tWwfv0M) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/16 "2013-10-26T22:34:19Z")
[Renee Fleming](http://www.reneefleming.com/about/), who, among other things, sang some of the Elven songs on the Lord of the Rings soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/17 "2013-10-27T01:37:07Z")
I will always love [Yvonne Minton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Minton) (variously billed as a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto) because her album of Mahler’s “Songs of a Wayfarer” was what I used to cure my mother of her life-long detestation of classical singing. My mum developed a hatred of opera and all related music, from being forced to go and watch [Madame Schumann-Heink](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernestine_Schumann-Heink) perform. The experience was emotionally traumatic, but Yvonne Minton was the cure. I also have had a lifelong crush on [Ursula Buckel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_Buckel) for her recordings of various J.S. Bach cantatas. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/18 "2013-10-27T08:45:09Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > Jackie Evancho is my current favourite, she can do no wrong, but as **Equipoise** has attested, Happy Rhodes is unbelievable with her extreme range. _boggle_ Let it be known to one and all that I did NOT, I repeat, did NOT, pay Mcglaren to post this. Neither money, the promise of sexual favors, nor blackmail was involved. I don’t even know this person. Swear! I know most of the artists you posted, but not Jackie. I’ll listen when I can. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/19 "2013-10-27T13:00:54Z")
loreena mckennitt, enya. celtic women, and anuna for groups. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491/20 "2013-10-27T13:28:44Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > _boggle_ Let it be known to one and all that I did NOT, I repeat, did NOT, pay Mcglaren to post this. Neither money, the promise of sexual favors, nor blackmail was involved. I don’t even know this person. Swear! > > I know most of the artists you posted, but not Jackie. I’ll listen when I can. **Equipoise** - we had a discussion about Happy Rhodes shortly after I discovered her a few rears back and you were kind enough to provide a lot of very welcome information abut her. Shame she seems to have given up on her music, at least as far as recording goes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-some-of-your-favorite-classical-or-pop-sopranos/571491.md?page=2)