With links to: the scene itself (with movie, libretto and more information), the roles, the composer and the opera. It was first published *gasp* eight years ago in 2011. Jessye Norman. There are more singers today, but–just as Hendricks predicted–fewer stars since the 1960s and ’70s. Her most iconic performance came even earlier, however. A beautiful contralto (there aren't nearly enough in the world! Browse through all mezzo-soprano opera singers, divided by language. I'm going to start with notable contraltos from the past and list those who have notable international careers. Some famous contralto singers include Cher, Toni Braxton, Sade, and Annie Lennox in popular music. Discover the American female opera singers who have made significant contribution to their field. Who are instead of who is will make this answer a little easier. When Jessye Norman died last year, New York’s Met Opera called her “one of the great sopranos of the past half-century”. contralto "As the Israelitish Man, Sara Couden displayed her huge and fluid mezzo-soprano to glorious effect in a range of vocal showcases--now tender and probing, now extravagantly athletic. Subtypes and roles in opera Within the contralto voice type category are three generally recognized subcategories: coloratura contralto, lyric contralto, and dramatic contralto. After a calling-card first solo album for Decca, his sophomore album is a more focused effort of Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner. The voices of female opera singers are categorized as contralto or soprano and male voices are categorized as bass or tenor. Editor’s note: It’s time to update this list of best male opera singers. One aria, 'So rapid thy course is,' drove the audience into such convulsions of delight that applause burst out before the aria was even over." A contralto’s voice is known for being low (the contralto range is typically around F below middle C to second F above middle C) and having a rich, warm sound. Contra -against Alto high. In the genre of opera, the singers are categorized based on the range in which they can sing. First, what is a contralto. The tenor’s good looks – more Latin lover than German Heldentenor – are also no disadvantage to the singer in a recording business desperate to make opera look sexy. Some of the rare Contraltos that can sing the female equivalent of Tenor & Baritone include Zarah Leander,[6][7] Ruby Helder,[8] Bally Prell,[9] and Nina Hagen. ), Anderson preferred to sing in concert and recital, but made one groundbreaking operatic appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955, as Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, when she became the Met's first Black soloist. Sadly others have passed, some have been diminished by age and at least one, by a harassment scandal. 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