Soprano perhaps keeps from speaking about new tenor with hesitant expression (8)
I believe the answer is:
gangster
'soprano perhaps keeps from speaking' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'new tenor with hesitant expression' is the wordplay.
'new' becomes 'gangs' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'tenor' becomes 't'.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hesitant expression' becomes 'er'.
'gangs'+'t'+'er'='GANGSTER'
'about' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gangster that I've seen before include "Typical Cagney role" , "Mobster" , "Villain" , "Hood, desperado" , "Member of criminal group" .)