Blog Archives

Aria of the Week #54: "Nonn' erubeskite reges...Ego senem kekidi"

29/9/2014

Aria of the Week #54: "Nonn' erubeskite reges...Ego senem kekidi" by G. F. Handel.
Performed by Hilary Summers.
Score: None.
Uploaded by Hilary Summers Contralto.

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Contralto Corner Celebrates 100 Contraltos On The Site!

25/9/2014

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This week the 100th Contralto Profile was added to the Profiles Section of the Contralto Corner.

I would like to thank all the fans of the Contralto voice who support this website, and the Contraltos themselves, who sing so beautifully for us.

The Contraltos listed there are from all categories (Coloratura, Lyric, Mid-Weight, Dramatic, Profondo and Basso) and from all stages of career (historical, current, and up-and-coming).

To celebrate this milestone, I have pulled together a sample of ten arias and scenes which, for me, showcase the Contralto voice in all its glory.

I hope you enjoy listening to them!

All the best,

James

Der Tod und das Mädchen
Performed by Marian Anderson

Gaea's Scene from Daphne
Performed by Anna Larsson

Klytemnestra's Scene from Elektra
Performed by Ewa Podleś

The Enchantress
Performed by Dame Clara Butt

Nel Profondo
Performed by Sonia Prina

Urlicht from Symphony #2
Performed by Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Weiche, Wotan! Weiche!
Performed by Jane Madiera

Re dell'abisso, affrettati
Performed by Claramae Turner

Accerba voluta
Performed by Gwendolyn Brown

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
Performed by Helen Watts

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Contralto Update: Angharad Lyddon

24/9/2014

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Today's Contralto Update features Angharad Lyddon.

Angharad has a First Class Honours degree from the Royal Academy of Music and is now in her first year of their MA degree programme. Her solo performance highlights include Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, the world premiere of Greenhouses by Tansy Davis. Operatically Angharad has sung Lady Mary in Sir Nigel of Tilford for Tilford Bach Society; Third Lady in The Magic Flute for Jackdaws and Lucretia Rape of Lucretia for RAM Vocal Faculty Opera Scenes.

Check out her page and the Sound Cloud recording below.

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Contralto Update: Nan Li

23/9/2014

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Today's Contralto Update features Nan Li.

Nan Li is an exciting contralto from Beijing, now based in New York. She received her Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Credits at Manhattan School of Music include Mahogany of city (six lady’s) and Hansel and Gretel (Witch) in 2013. She is currently studying on fellowship at the Aspen Summer program where she will perform in Eugene Onegin (Filipayevna).

Check out her page, and the video below.

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Aria of the Week #53: "Dank sei dir Herr"

22/9/2014

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Aria of the Week #53: "Dank sei dir Herr" by G. F. Handel.
Performed by Aafje Heynis.
Score: None.
Uploaded by andigrim.

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Aria of the Week #52: "L'occhio, il labbro, il seno, il core"

15/9/2014

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Aria of the Week #52: "L'occhio, il labbro, il seno, il core" by A. Vivaldi.
Performed by Sara Mingardo.
Score: None.
Uploaded by oltre il barocco.

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Wigmore Hall To Play Host To Five Contraltos In Its 2014-15 Season

3/9/2014

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Nathalie Stutzmann, contralto

On Friday 17 October, Nathalie Stutzmann will perform in recital with her orchestra, Orefo 55. The recital is part of the Early Music and Baroque series, and will include arias such as the furious "Gemo in un punto e fremo" and the heart-rending "Scherza infida".

Hilary Summers will perform as the Alto Soloist in the Christmas performance of Messiah at the Wigmore Hall on 23rd December, with the incomparable Christian Curnyn conducting.

In the January to March booking season, Sonia Prina returns to the Wigmore Hall on 3rd January with Roberta Invernizzi to promote their album Amore e Morte dell’Amore, published on the Naive record label. The Spring Season also sees the arrival of the French-Canadian Contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, who will perform in recital on 27th Febuary.

Finally, in the Summer Season, regular Wigmore Hall performer Sara Mingardo will perform as part of the BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Recital Series on 11th May, with a programme to include works by Falconieri and Monteverdi.

Hilary Summers, contralto

Sonia Prina, contralto

Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto

Sara Mingardo, contralto

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Hilary Summers to take the title role in Opera Settecento's production of Vivaldi's Griselda at Cadogan Hall on 18th September

2/9/2014

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Hilary Summers, contralto

Contralto Hilary Summers will take on the title role in Opera Settecento's production of Vivaldi's Griselda at Cadogan Hall on 18th September.

The role of Griselda was created by Vivaldi's protegée Anna Girò, who had started her long professional relationship with Vivaldi with her performance as the nymph Eudamia in the opera Dorilla in Tempe.

La Griselda was performed for the first time in the modern era at Buxton Opera House in 1983 since when it hasn’t received further performances in the United Kingdom. Opera Settecento’s performance is the UK premiere of the scholarly edition of La Griselda, produced by G Ricordi & Co of Milan.

The edition Opera Settecento is using was first recorded by the Vivaldi Edition on the Naïve label in 2006. Tickets are still available.

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Aria of the Week #51: "Widerstehe doch der Sünde"

1/9/2014

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Aria of the Week #51: "Widerstehe doch der Sünde" by J. S. Bach.
Performed by Delphine Galou.
Score: Bach Cantatas.
Uploaded by DutchPublicist.

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Aria of the Week #54: "Nonn' erubeskite reges...Ego senem kekidi"

Contralto Corner Celebrates 100 Contraltos On The Site!

Der Tod und das Mädchen
Performed by Marian Anderson

Gaea's Scene from Daphne
Performed by Anna Larsson

Klytemnestra's Scene from Elektra
Performed by Ewa Podleś

The Enchantress
Performed by Dame Clara Butt

Nel Profondo
Performed by Sonia Prina

Urlicht from Symphony #2
Performed by Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Weiche, Wotan! Weiche!
Performed by Jane Madiera

Re dell'abisso, affrettati
Performed by Claramae Turner

Accerba voluta
Performed by Gwendolyn Brown

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
Performed by Helen Watts

Contralto Update: Angharad Lyddon

Contralto Update: Nan Li

Aria of the Week #53: "Dank sei dir Herr"

Aria of the Week #52: "L'occhio, il labbro, il seno, il core"

Wigmore Hall To Play Host To Five Contraltos In Its 2014-15 Season

Hilary Summers to take the title role in Opera Settecento's production of Vivaldi's Griselda at Cadogan Hall on 18th September

Aria of the Week #51: "Widerstehe doch der Sünde"

Dramatic Contraltos

Contralto Profondos

Links

Blog Roll

Categories

Archives

Der Tod und das MädchenPerformed by Marian Anderson

Gaea's Scene from DaphnePerformed by Anna Larsson

Klytemnestra's Scene from ElektraPerformed by Ewa Podleś

The EnchantressPerformed by Dame Clara Butt

Nel ProfondoPerformed by Sonia Prina

Urlicht from Symphony #2Performed by Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Weiche, Wotan! Weiche!Performed by Jane Madiera

Re dell'abisso, affrettatiPerformed by Claramae Turner

Accerba volutaPerformed by Gwendolyn Brown

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to ZionPerformed by Helen Watts

Dramatic Contraltos

Contralto Profondos

Links

Blog Roll

Categories

Archives

Der Tod und das Mädchen
Performed by Marian Anderson

Gaea's Scene from Daphne
Performed by Anna Larsson

Klytemnestra's Scene from Elektra
Performed by Ewa Podleś

The Enchantress
Performed by Dame Clara Butt

Nel Profondo
Performed by Sonia Prina

Urlicht from Symphony #2
Performed by Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Weiche, Wotan! Weiche!
Performed by Jane Madiera

Re dell'abisso, affrettati
Performed by Claramae Turner

Accerba voluta
Performed by Gwendolyn Brown

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
Performed by Helen Watts