The

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typica ...

voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound producti ...

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

and classical music has a

range Range may refer to: Geography * Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra) ** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands * Range, a term used to i ...

which typically lies between the F below middle C ( F3) to two Fs above middle C (F5). In the lower and upper extremes, some contralto voices can sing from the E below middle C (E3) to two Bs above middle C (B5). The contralto voice has the lowest

tessitura In music, tessitura (, pl. ''tessiture'', "texture"; ) is the most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a given singer or less frequently, musical instrument, the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding (or characte ...

of the female voices and is noted for its rich and deep vocal

timbre In music, timbre ( ), also known as tone color or tone quality (from psychoacoustics), is the perceived sound quality of a musical note, sound or tone. Timbre distinguishes different types of sound production, such as choir voices and musica ...

. True operatic contraltos are very rare. The following is a list of contralto singers who have regularly performed unamplified classical or operatic music in concert halls and/or opera houses.

A–L

Disderi, Adolphe Eugène (1810-1890) - Alboni, Marietta (1826-1894), contralto 1

Singer Clara Butt (SAYRE 16488) (cropped)

Eunice Alberts Eunice Alberts (1927–2012) was an American contralto who had an active career as a concert soloist and opera singer during the 1950s through the 1980s. Early life and education Born in Boston, Alberts attended the Girls' Latin School in ...

(1927–2012) *

Marietta Alboni Maria Anna Marzia (called Marietta) Alboni (6 March 1826 – 23 June 1894) was a renowned Italian contralto opera singer. She is considered "one of the greatest contraltos in operatic history". Biography Alboni was born at Città di Castello, i ...

(1823–1894) *

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throughout the United ...

(1897–1993) * Fanny Anitúa (1887–1968) * Cecil Arden (1894–1989) *

Germaine Bailac Jeanne Albertine Germaine Bailac de Boria (28 March 1881 – 12 October 1977) was a French mezzo-soprano opera singer and voice teacher. After studying at the Toulouse and Paris conservatoires, she made her début at the Paris Opera in August 1 ...

(1881–1977) * Fedora Barbieri (1920–2003) *

Eula Beal Eula Beal Garnett (January 25, 1919 – July 29, 2008) professionally billed as Eula Beal, was an American opera lyric contralto. During her relatively short touring career, she performed with distinguished collaborators not only in concert o ...

(1919–2008) *

Marianne Brandt Marianne Brandt (1 October 1893 – 18 June 1983) was a German painter, sculptor, photographer, metalsmith, and designer who studied at the Bauhaus art school in Weimar and later became head of the Bauhaus ''Metall-Werkstatt'' (Metal Workshop ...

(1842–1921) * Karin Branzell (1891–1974) * Muriel Brunskill (1899–1980) *

Clara Butt Dame Clara Ellen Butt, (1 February 1872 – 23 January 1936) was an English contralto and one of the most popular singers from the 1890s through to the 1920s. She had an exceptionally fine contralto voice and an agile singing technique, and imp ...

(1872–1936) *

AnnaMaria Cardinalli AnnaMaria Cardinalli ( AnnaMaria Cardinalli-Padilla; born 1979) is an American military investigator, classical guitarist, and operatic contralto. Education Cardinalli graduated from high school at the age of 14 and college at the age of 18. H ...

(born 1979) * Marie-Louise Cébron-Norbens (1888–1958) *

Lili Chookasian Lili Chookasian (August 1, 1921April 9, 2012) was an American contralto of Armenian ethnicity, who appeared with many of the world's major symphony orchestras and opera houses. She began her career in the 1940s as a concert singer but did not ...

(1921–2012) * Belle Cole (1845 or 1853–1905) * Kate Condon (1877–1941) * Clorinda Corradi (1804–1877) *

Kathleen Ferrier Kathleen Mary Ferrier, CBE (22 April 19128 October 1953) was an English contralto singer who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the c ...

(1912–1953) *

Maureen Forrester Maureen Kathleen Stewart Forrester, (July 25, 1930 – June 16, 2010) was a Canadian operatic contralto. Life and career Maureen Forrester was born and grew up in Montreal, Quebec, one of four children of Thomas Forrester, a Scottish cabinetmak ...

(1930–2010) *

Delphine Galou Delphine Galou (born 1977) is a French contralto. She was the "Discovery of the Year" of the French Association for the Promotion of Young Artists in 2004. Galou's outstanding vocal technique combined with noble bearing allow her performances of t ...

(born 1977) *

Anna Girò Anna Girò (also Girrò or Giraud), also known as l'Annina del Prete Rosso, la Nina del Prete Rosso, or l'Annina della Pietà, was the stage name of Anna Maria(?) Maddalena Tessieri (or Tesieri, Teseire or Testeiré), an Italian mezzo-soprano/cont ...

(circa 1710 or 1711–1748 or later) *

Louise Homer Louise Beatty Homer (April 30, 1871May 6, 1947) was an American operatic contralto who had an active international career in concert halls and opera houses from 1895 until her retirement in 1932. After a brief stint as a vaudeville entertainer ...

(1871–1947) *

Edna Indermaur Edna Freda Indermaur (December 21, 1892 - January 10, 1985) was an American contralto singer. Biography Indermaur was born on December 21, 1892 in Buffalo, New York, United States. She was of Swiss descent and a member of the In der Maur fam ...

(1892–1985) * Jenny Twitchell Kempton (1835–1921) *

Gillian Knight Gillian Knight (born 1 November 1934) is an English opera singer and actress, known for her performances in the contralto roles of the Savoy operas. After six years from 1959 to 1965 starring in these roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ...

(born 1934) * Anna Larsson (born 1966) * Marie-Nicole Lemieux (born 1975) *

Gisela Litz Gisela Litz (14 December 1922 – 21 July 2023) was a German contralto who sang frequently at the Bayreuth Festival. A recording is available of her singing as one of the Rhinemaidens in ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' conducted by Clemens Krauss in ...

(1922–2017) * Louise Kirkby Lunn (1873–1930)

M–Z

Adelaide Malanotte Adelaide Malanotte (1785 – 31 December 1832) was an Italian operatic contralto who performed in major opera houses in Italy from 1806–1821. She is best known for creating the title role in the world premiere of Gioachino Rossini's ''Tancredi' ...

(1785–1832) *

Bernadette Manca di Nissa Bernadette Manca di Nissa (born 27 September 1954) is an Italian operatic contralto who has sung leading roles in the principal opera houses of Italy as well as internationally. She has appeared at La Scala in Milan, La Fenice in Venice, Teatr ...

(born 1954) *

Marietta Marcolini Marietta Marcolini (born c. 1780 – 26 December 1855) was an Italian operatic contralto. Marcolini was born in Florence. The date of her stage debut is unknown, but she was appearing in Venice in 1800. She subsequently sang in Naples, Livorno, ...

(c. 1780–1855) *

Margaret Matzenauer Margaret Matzenauer (sometimes spelled Margarete Matzenauer or Margarethe Matzenaur) (1 June 1881 – 19 May 1963) was an Austria-Hungary-born, later resident in the United States, mezzo-soprano. She had an opulent timbre and wide range. S ...

(1881–1963), who sang mostly mezzo-soprano roles though *

Antonia Merighi Antonia Margherita Merighi (born Bologna – died by 1764) was an Italian contralto active between 1703 and 1744 and known for her performances in operas by George Frideric Handel. Biography Merighi's initial career was in Italy, where for se ...

(died 1764) * Sara Mingardo (born 1961) * Sigrid Onégin (1889–1943) * Rosmunda Pisaroni (1793–1872) *

Ewa Podleś Ewa Podleś (; born April 26, 1952) is a Polish coloratura contralto singer who has had an active international career both on the opera stage and in recital. She is known for the agility of her voice and a vocal range which spans more than three ...

(born 1952) *

Marie Powers Marie Powers (1902–1973) was an American contralto who was best known for her performance as Madame Flora in Gian Carlo Menotti’s ''The Medium'', a role that she played on stage, screen and television. Early life On June 20, 1902, Powers w ...

(1902–1973) * Sonia Prina (born 1975) * Maria Radner (1981—2015) *

Geltrude Righetti Geltrude Righetti (December 26, 1789 – April 24, 1862) was an Italian contralto closely associated with the operas of Gioachino Rossini. (Her name is also sometimes given as Giorgi-Righetti or Righetti-Giorgi, Giorgi being the name of her husb ...

(1793–1862) *

Anastasia Robinson Anastasia Robinson ( – April 1755), later known as Anastasia, Countess of Peterborough, was an English soprano, later contralto, of the Baroque era. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in who ...

(c. 1692–1755) *

Sofia Scalchi Sofia Scalchi (November 29, 1850 – August 22, 1922) was an Italian operatic contralto who could also sing in the mezzo-soprano range. Her career was international, and she appeared at leading theatres in both Europe and America. Singing ...

(1850–1922) *

Ernestine Schumann-Heink Ernestine Schumann-Heink (15 June 186117 November 1936) was a Bohemian-born Austrian-American operatic dramatic contralto of German Bohemian descent. She was noted for the flexibility and wide range of her voice. Early life She was born Ernes ...

(1861–1936) *

Annice Sidwells Annice Sidwells (1902–2001) was a star of early wireless radio in the UK as a contralto singer. Sidwells was born in Settle, West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, Engla ...

(1902–2001) * Monica Sinclair (1925–2002) *

Nathalie Stutzmann Nathalie Stutzmann (née Dupuy; born 6 May 1965) is a French contralto and conductor. Biography Born in Suresnes in France, Stutzmann first studied with her mother, soprano Christiane Stutzmann, then at Nancy Conservatoire and later at the ''Éc ...

(born 1965) *

Hilary Summers Hilary Summers is a Welsh lyric contralto. She was trained at Reading University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the National Opera Studio in London. She has performed on soundtracks such as '' The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'', '' The L ...

Vittoria Tesi Vittoria Tesi Tramontini, also known as "La Fiorentina" or "La Moretta" (the Florentine or the Moorish or brunette girl) (Florence, 13 Feb 1701 – 9 May 1775 in Vienna) was an Italian opera singer (later singing teacher) of the 18th century. H ...

(1700–1775) *

Kerstin Thorborg Kerstin Thorborg (19 May 1896 – 12 April 1970) was a Swedish opera singer. The Mezzo-soprano Kerstin Thorborg was one of the best dramatic Wagnerian singers in the two decades between 1930 and 1950. By all accounts, Thorborg was a magnificent act ...

(1896–1970) *

Claramae Turner Claramae Turner (née Haas; October 28, 1920 – May 18, 2013) was an American operatic contralto, perhaps best known for her appearance in the film ''Carousel'' (1956), adapted from the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical of the same name. ...

(1920–2013) * Francesca Vanini-Boschi (?–1744) *

Lucia Elizabeth Vestris Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (''née'' Elizabetta Lucia Bartolozzi; 3 March 1797 – 8 August 1856) was an English actress and a contralto opera singer, appearing in works by, among others, Mozart and Rossini. While popular in her time, she was mor ...

(1797–1856) *

Helen Watts Helen Watts (7 December 19277 October 2009) was a Welsh contralto. Early life Helen Josephine Watts was born in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Her father was a pharmacist, Tom Watts and moved to live above his shop at 26 Market Street, Ha ...

(1927–2009) *

Portia White Portia May White (June 24, 1911February 13, 1968) was a Canadian contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame. Growing up as part of her father's church choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Whit ...

(1911–1968) * Marta Wittkowska (1882–1977)

References

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* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Operatic contraltos, List

Contraltos A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

Operatic Contraltos Lists of women in music

A–L

M–Z

See also

References

Notes

Sources