is there a chance for an ALTO to become a SOPRANO?

Answer 1

It is possible and rather frequent. I'll intend alto and mezzo as the same, like it is in day to day practice. Leontyne Price sang Carmen, Callas and numerous coloritura sopranos like Roberta Peters sang Rosina in Rossini's Barber (but some skip the low note "sarò una vipera, sarò" in the cavatina); on the other way, Verrett sang Lady Macbeth and hit the D flat of the sleep-walking scene without problems; Fiorenza Cossotto sang Cavalleria Rusticana.
If you think that a soprano is decribed as a C to C to C extension, and a mezzo as an A to A to A, you see for yourself it's a close call. The real problem isn't hitting high or low notes, it is the way you sing the central ones, and "where" your centre lies. Take a normal soprano singing Mimì or Butterfly and ask her to sing the veil song of Princess Eboli in Don Carlo; then compare her to Grace Bumbry or Agnes Baltsa, just to name two. Then call me back.
Male voices are slightly different, because the lower the voice the bigger the darkening effect of the side-harmonics. However, baritones like Gino Bechi and Titta Ruffo hit easily B, Cornell Mac Neil hit B flat and the glorious Enrico Caruso recorded tha bass aria "Vecchia zimarra" from Bohème. Excluding him, being a pure phenomenon, the problem of the central register is the same as for women.

Later: it is exactly what I said: "The real problem isn't hitting high or low notes, it is the way you sing the central ones, and "where" your centre lies." Anyway, I take the opportunity to add: you don't "become a soprano", you can sing soprano's roles, provided that a) you can hit the high notes and b) your central register is compatible with the role. Amen.

Answer 2

alto? or mezzo? if you are a mezzo it is not impossible but it is risky both Shirley Verrett and Grace Bumbry made their debut and marks as mezzos but then successfully ventured into the soprano repertoire then returned to the mezzo repertoire .... but their high notes were not always that pleasant to hear (but since they were so terrific to watch and so musical it wasn't hard to not care)

an addendum to the Italian's answer (very succinct by the way) even Ewa Podles a true Contralto can pop out a high B every once in a while ... the real question is where your center lies not the range you can hit .... Regina Resnik started as soprano (Sieglinde) a magnificent performance but her true center was in the mezzo range where she enjoyed a fruitful and long career (she's a tough bird but really sweet underneath)

Answer 3

As a singing teacher I would say that most pupils can squeak a few extra high notes and rumble a few extra low ones. The potential is always there to develop them and sing them with quality. However, your singing 'equipment' is not technically designed to sing outside of a certain range, so I suggest you develop what you have and investigate which roles you can sing well.

Answer 4

Don't even try.

(A) If you try consistently to sing higher than your natural vocal range, you're going to injure your voice
(B) it would be MUCH cooler to be an alto/mezzo anyway...their parts in choral music are definitely more interesting. Who wants to sing the boring old melody all day? :-)

Answer 5

A good professional teacher can determine your classification. Then again, it must be with a mature vocal apparatus. A young girl, even 14, has not fully developed her vocal potential.

Answer 6

I feel youre pain indeed, but no. Youre voice is youre voice, you can gain a note here and there, but you cant really change youre vocal range.

Answer 7

ummm....i don't think so.you might be able to change your range,SLIGHTLY,where it's easier to hit higher notes but i don't think you can completly change.Just be happy with your range.Btw,I'm a singer myself and i wish i could hit some higher notes.But i realize my limits.There's no sense in wearing out your voice trying to acheive what your voice box cannot handle.