# Who are the best altos? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2009, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528 "2009-12-25T05:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/1 "2009-12-25T05:50:52Z")
(Or mezzos; I’m not certain of the difference.) Check out this male alto or countertenor, [Max Cencic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQSetFavw8). He’s so amazingly good he’s got me wondering if any female altos have a voice as spectacular as his. Can somebody point me to women singing in the same range with that kind of power and precision? Forgive me if this is heresy, but I don’t think [Marilyn Horne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7s94Q4miE0), for example, is quite as good as he is. His male chest is giving him that power - like Sister Mary Ignatius, I guess I mourn the passing of the castrati. But not really - castrati sang soprano as far as I know. I’m craving perfection in the alto range. A man singing falsetto can’t be it, can he? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/2 "2009-12-25T08:18:19Z")
He’s got a fabulous voice, no question. But to me, it’s not better than [the glorious Denyce Graves, here singing Delilah’s gorgeous aria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbF5NACL6YE). How could Samson not be lost in that voice? (And paired with Domingo… yummers!) Or how about her [Carmen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V9woZuVIO4)? Power, legato, beauty in one amazing voice. Not bad lookin’ either, though that’s an optional extra. Actually, my favorite mezzo soprano voice, albeit a lighter one, is Frederica von Stade. [Here she sings Rossini’s "Una Voce Poco Fa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Jvr5lg8vE). A true powerhouse. This aria’s often sung by sopranos in a higher key, but I prefer this from Flicka. She’s also a charming performer. And let’s talk Tatiana Troyanos, [here singing “O Don Fatale.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDHwWI27ME0&feature=related) Pipes? Hells yeah. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/3 "2009-12-25T12:26:42Z")
Will I be forgiven for offering nothing but my favorite alto joke? How many altos does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two. One to reach for the light socket . . . . . . and one to say “Hmmm, isn’t that a little high for you?” ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/4 "2009-12-25T20:22:09Z")
**choie** , Denyce Graves is amazing, thanks. I may have a new obsession. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/5 "2009-12-25T21:21:43Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Will I be forgiven for offering nothing but my favorite alto joke? > > How many altos does it take to screw in a light bulb? > > Two. > One to reach for the light socket . . . > . . . and one to say “Hmmm, isn’t that a little high for you?” _snerk_ (or should I say _meow_?) Know that at least one Doper appreciated that joke, **bienville** … ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-best-altos/522528/6 "2009-12-25T22:33:33Z")
My own favorite alto joke: What’s the difference between an alto and a countertenor? A countertenor doesn’t have hair on his back. And btw, my favorite Carmen is Marilyn Horne.