Top 10 Female Opera Singers

Compiling our list of the ten top female opera singers of all time was not easy. We spoke to a lot of people before we put these names together. Ranking them was an even harder task. The following ten woman are superstars of the opera world. They’ve performed at every major opera house in the world and achieved international acclaim.

There’s a lot of drama in the opera world and we expect you’ll have something to say about our list. Leave us a comment below and let us know who we left out and who we should have never included. Have a lot of love for one of these ladies? Tell us why

Click ‘(more…)’ to see the list!

 

1 Renata Tebaldi

Tebaldi is number one for her technique. She produces a powerful sound with great high notes. Her dark Italian soprano is attractive to many. Arturo Toscanini said she had “the voice of an angel.” Her warm personality and striking stage presence went hand in hand with her impeccable vocal technique to create a true winner.

2 Julia Migenes-Johnson

Julia Migenes-Johnson is our highest ranking Mezzo on this list. Many are familiar with her high-profile performance as Carman alongside Placido Domingo in one of the most popular filmed operas. She has recorded more than 20 albums in addition to performing some of opera’s most iconic roles.

3 Maria Spacagna

Maria Spacagna is best known for her role in Madam Butterfly. Spacagna was the first American to sing the role of Cio-Cio San at La Scala. Her strong vocal character is very moving. She is the most under-rated singer on this list but can hold her own.

4 Mado Robin

Mado Robin made this list not just for her incredible high notes. The french coloratura’s control and flexibilty are legendary. And her vast range is unreal. She died at age 41 in the prime of her career. If she had lived longer she could have been number one on this list.

5 Jessye Norman

Norman is a dramatic soprano with volume unlike any other. Her groundbreaking success is attributed to her technical mastery. Her international appeal has lead to her truly unconventional career for an opera singer. Norman is a Grammy lifetime award winner.

6 Kiri Te Kanawa

New Zealand-born Kiri Te Kanawa is a soprano who has achieved international success for her work singing classic composers like Mozart, Verdi, Handel and Puccini. Kiri never pushes and as a result her voice has a vibrant easy sound.

7 Diana Damrau

Damrau is one of the bst know opera singers of alive. This German coloratura soprano famous her role in The Magic Flute as the Queen of The Night. Her acclaimed career highlights and arresting stage presence made it impossible to exclude her from this list.

8 Anna Netrebko

Netrebko is a modern opera singer who’s career is unique. She’s included in this list for her gorgeous, specific dark voice coupled with her magical stage presence and humor. Her voice has agility, clarity and creativity. Her charisma ties it all together.

9 Joyce DiDonato

‘Joyce from Kansas’ is a crowd pleaser and under-dog. She is another Grammy winner for classical vocal solo, She has appeared in the operas of Rossini, Handel and Mozart among many others to serious acclaim. Her down-to-earth personality lights up the stage while still creating a bond between Joyce and her fans.

10 Sumi Jo

Sumi Jo is a South Korean lyric coloratura soprano who finishes out our list of top ranking female opera singers. Sumi Jo has performed leading roles a handful of times at the Metropolitan opera in addition to recording over 10 solo albums one of which won a Grammy award in 1993. Her humble nature and beautiful voice are her money-makers.

---

 

Well that’s our list! What did you think? Do you agree with our choices? How about the way we ranked them? Let us know in the comments below what you thought or on Facebook twitter @vergevoices on instagram @vergevoices