Roles for female tenors?

My daughter has been told by her music teacher/choirmaster that she is a tenor. I'm not sure what the implications are for her, regarding what roles might be appropriate. Obviously, I know some soprano roles are out (I didn't need a choirmaster to tell me that), but I was wondering what roles might be good. Particularly, are any roles actually written for a female tenor? Thanks.

---

In my experience, school choirs are usually very female, so it's possible your daughter is really just a lower alto, who her choir master put in the tenor section because he didn't have enough boys (though obviously I could be wrong).

---

The first female role with a deep voice that comes to mind is Mama Rose in Gypsy. In the original movie version (the one with Natalie Wood and Karl Malden), and Mama Rose had the keys significantly lowered for her, and they were extremely low.

Gotham-
Mary was a pretty high soprano with a strong low range. Listen to "Mysterious Lady." Tenors typically can't pull that off at all. In fact, I want to say the two options for Dolly Levi are a low alto (Carol) and a sporano (Mary).

My immediate thought was anything Bea Arthur played...so Vera Charles and Matchmaker.

---

I have a friend who's singing tenor in our school choir this year who sang soprano last year. And I can only sing tenor or mezzo-soprano, but I'm a weak alto. Your daughter might be a mezzo, just not be as strong in the medium-low alto range.

---

I knew a girl in my high school choir who had possibly the lowest female voice I've ever heard. But she sang alto just fine.

As someone who morphed into Bea Arthur (in voice and height) at 12, I feel your daughter's pain! I ended up singing wildly inappropriate songs like "Could I Leave You", "Send in the Clowns", and "The Ladies Who Lunch". Most of the middle-aged, jaded roles are in the right voicing. Which, of course, doesn't help when you're 14.

Another thought -- it's music-oriented rather than theater-oriented, but if you have a local Sweet Adelines chapter, she might enjoy singing with them. It's women's 4 part a cappella singing (barbershop), and it's one of the few places I know of where a low voice is a great thing. They have an outstanding music education program called Young Women in Harmony, and it really is a blast. I wish I'd known about it when I was a teenager. If she might be interested, you can check and see where your local chapter is at sweetadelineintl.org

Updated On: 12/19/10 at 06:00 AM

Golde in FIddler on the Roof could definitely be played by a tenor. Wasn't she a tenor in the film?

---