I want to listen to a bit more singing, but don't really know where to start in terms of picking up recordings. Who do you like listening to? I'm particularly interested in picking up some good contralto recordings, so recommendations along those lines would be especially welcome.


Regards
Jane

Good Contraltos:

Janet Baker
Helen Watts
Kathleen Ferrier

Three names from the past to conjour with.

Try Janet Baker's classic recording of Elgar's Sea Pictures.
You can't go too far wrong there.

Dame Janet Baker was a mezzo soprano rather than a contralto. It would be worth listening to recordings of Marian Anderson too.

More on the voice here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alto_(voice)

That page doesn't cover oratorio, which is where many great contralto parts are found. Some examples listed here.

Lots of contraltos here: http://www.cantabile-subito.de/Contraltos/contraltos.html

My favourite contralto moment in opera is towards the end of Wagner's Das Rheingold where the Earth-goddess Erda appears and fortells the downfall of the Gods: stunning.

THanks for links and hints. I'm familiar with the work of the the three Jod refers too - always lovely to hear them sing, and good to be reminded of them. But I was also hoping to look up some more contemporary singers? The Wagnger's a good suggestion, thanks Storini.