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Soubrette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Soubrette is an originally French term from Provençal, meaning conceited or coy.
In classical music and opera, it is used to describe a leggiero soprano or occasionally a mezzo-soprano, such as the roles of Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Ännchen in Der Freischütz. The character is usually a maid or servant.
In theatre, the term describes comedy character who is vain and girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish and gossipy - often a chambermaid or confidante of the ingenue, she often displays a flirtatious or even sexually aggressive nature. Such characters appeared in commedia dell'arte scenarios, often in the role of Columbina, where the actress would provide the details of her behavior and dialogue. From there, she moved to the works of Molière, which were influenced by commedia; the role of Dorine in Tartuffe (1664) fits the description. A famous example, though a hundred years later, is the role of Suzanne in Beaumarchais' Le Mariage de Figaro (1784).
Most operettas include such a character, for example Valencienne in The Merry Widow. In Gilbert and Sullivan, the Jessie Bond mezzo-soprano roles are considered soubrettes. Another example is the character Ellie Mae Chipley, who sings "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" in Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat. A more recent example is Magda in Tanz der Vampire.