contralto
lowest female voice / female singer with low range
Noun
pl: contraltos
This term describes the deepest female singing voice, characterized by a heavy, rich timbre and a range that extends below that of a mezzo-soprano. It is often associated with a sense of maturity, authority, or solemnity in operatic casting. In musical notation and performance, the contralto is the rarest of the female voice types. Because of its depth, it is frequently used for character roles, such as older women or masculine figures, providing a stark sonic contrast to the higher soprano voices.