0 a woman singer with the lowest female singing voice, or this type of voice --
1 a woman’s singing voice in the lowest range, or a woman with this range --
The collection was completed in 1841, and initially composed for tenor, and mezzo-soprano, later arranged for baritone, contralto, or soprano, and piano.
A true operatic contralto is extremely rare, so much so that often roles intended for contraltos are performed by mezzo-sopranos.
Though present in jazz and country music, there were few contralto singers in popular music at the time.
Her voice is deep contralto with about an octave and a half range.
Her use of her contralto register was likened to dipping into a deep, mysterious well to scoop up a trove of buried riches.
She also occasionally played some of the larger contralto roles.
In 1977, she took over as the company's principal contralto, playing ten of these leading roles with the company until its closure in 1982.
So although a singer in another genre might have a range equivalent to a contralto, they would not have a similar sound.
