The vocal purity, natural charm, and virtuosity of the sopranos contributed to their status as the leading singers (or “prima donnas”) of 19th-century opera houses. The bright colors and agility of the female voice’s highest register, combined with a singer’s ability to convey emotions from bliss to rage, have made it a favorite of composers of opera and song. Different types of soprano voices include coloratura (with an extended and agile upper range), lyric, and dramatic.