coloratura

noun

1. (uncountable)Florid or fancy passages in vocal music.

   “The singing is generally excellent, with Simon Keenlyside standing out for his richly vocalized (and amusingly dour) Papageno and Diana Damrau for her spot-on coloratura and genuine venom as the Queen of the Night.”

2. (countable)A singer of such passages, especially a soprano.

   “The middle one, of course, was the coloratura Julia Kristeva, known as the most voluptuous Salome in the business.”

adj

1. Pertaining to coloratura.

   “She has a lighter and more coloratura voice.”

   “I drew a deep breath, this time fortunately unmixed with gin and tonic. I was profoundly stirred. “You mean,” I said, my voice quavering like that of a coloratura soprano, “that I went through that soul-shattering experience all for nothing?””