[Altodette]

[I apologize in advance if this topic can be found elsewhere - I swear I googled and lurked around before I posted this...]

I just got called back for the female ensemble, and the notice says that unless you are a high soprano, all females must belt. I sang "Not a Day Goes By" for the audition, and they said that I mixed really well, but they wanted to know how high I could belt. I did some vocalizing for them, and (much to my own suprize) I actually belted close to the c above middle c. I could have gone higher, but I got really scared and had to stop early.

I've definately done some belting, but haven't really belted that high in performances, or an a regular basis; I'm more of a "strong high mix" girl (think Liz Callaway). But, I wouldn't consider myself a "high soprano" either; sure, I could pull off Bb's just fine, and I've been Rapunzel in a professional production of "Woods," but those notes were barely in my "confident notes" range.

So - my question is: Do they want me as one of the "belters"? (Maybe I can do it better than I thought I could) Or do they want me as a "high soprano'? (Heaven help me if they ask for a bunch for B-nat's or high C's!)

How high does the female ensemble belt? And how high would the "high sopranos" have to wail up there? That would give me a better idea of what they think I should be singing, and what I should prepare for.

Thanks in advance....Altodette

[curlyhairedsoprano91]

The female ensemble hits a high C at the end of "One Day More," and the soprano parts pretty consistently stay in the 5th octave. Considering you played Rapunzel, I'm pretty sure you could handle it.

[JIJane]

If they were asking for your belt during the audition then yes, they are considering you as a belter in the chorus. Not a sop or they would have asked you to sing top sop stuff, not belt. I think you are a mezzo, not a sop. A true sop can literally just hit a top C like that without a warm up and not have a problem, most professional sops can go to an E or F above top C (so Christine and Carlotta's range in Phantom). If I were you I would go to a really good singing teacher and practice belting there, it's not something to play around with on your own as you might harm your voice. It also does not sound like you are a natural belter (as those would belt higher than a C, which is not that high really, most of them can do E's or F's) - although maybe you are and just haven't discovered that side of your voice yet. I strongly recommend you find a good singing teacher asap. Les Mis is generally a very belty shows for the girls unless you are playing Cosette or are a top sop and are literally in the ensemble to hit all the top notes. And since it does not sound like you are a high soprano, they asked for a belt.