Leyla Gencer - Assoluta - from Lyric Colorature to Contralto

Leyla Gencer, one of the greatest sopranos of all time. She could sing up to high F at the conservatory and down to low Ab (allanaki who was her student says that she once went down to low E). Though her colorature is not the best in the world she can still be considered as a colorature soprano when compared to the coloratures of today. Enjoy the most underrated assoluta singer of the 20th century... Assoluta soprano(soprano sfogato): By definition, the soprano sfogato is linked to the mezzo/contralto. It possesses a dark timbre with a rich and strong low register, as well the high notes of a soprano and occasionally a coloratura soprano. Those voices are typically strong, dramatic and agile, supported by an excellent bel canto technique and an ability to sing in the soprano tessitura as well as in the contralto tessitura with great ease, such as was said of Giuditta Pasta.