The Most Extraordinary Female Singers in History
- Joseph Stanek
- Apr 26
- 6 min read
Updated: May 28
In rare occurrences throughout history, certain musical instruments have transcended their physical form to become mythical.
According to legend, Paganini sold his soul to the devil in exchange for Il Cannone, history's most famous violin
David's harp, immortalized in ancient scripture, was said to bring kings to tears and heal the wounded heart.
Even Mrs. Mills, the name of the perfectly "honky-tonk" Steinway piano of Abbey Road Studios, is a pop culture icon in her own right. A piano.
Other instruments throughout history are rumored to be blessed by angels, to cure diseases, to open portals to hell — or even possessed by the power of Satan himself.
But what if the most extraordinary instruments weren't crafted by human hands at all?
What if they lived inside the human body — bone, muscle, and emotion fused into a singular force of sound?
Here, we celebrate the rarest of the rare: the voices so otherworldly, so technically superhuman, so emotionally seismic, that they belong alongside the most legendary instruments in history (perhaps even above them!).
This page is a living tribute to the female voices that seem to carve masterful sculptures of sound from what would otherwise be silent air around us. These voices exist in a rarified stratosphere where their abilities are almost mythological—superhuman in range, resonance, agility, and sheer emotional magnitude. An ever-evolving and supremely exclusive tribute t the greatest female vocal phenomena ever captured in recordings as new legends emerge and timeless icons are rediscovered. These are the most extraordinary female singers in history.
This blog post is a work in progress. Stay tuned for more names worthy of this distinction.
The Most Extraordinary Female Singers in History
Yma Súmac
"The Incan Princess of Five Octaves"
Signature Recording: "Chuncho (The Forest Creatures)"(Listen at your own risk — you might never recover.)
If Mother Nature opened her mouth and delivered her best vocal performance for us, I'm pretty sure it would sound like Yma Súmac. Her vocal abilities are so otherworldly, we totally believe her when she claims to be a descendent of the last Incan Emperor Atahualpa. (This would make her an Incan princess by blood.) Whether it's true or not, I'm here for it.
Súmac unleashed a vocal range spanning more than five octaves, from volcanic, beastly chest tones to birdlike whistle tones and trills. Her singing transcended category — at once wild, ethereal, and utterly otherworldly. One moment she was imitating the guttural growl of a jaguar; the next, she floated higher than most coloratura sopranos ever dared.
She even appeared on Broadway in a show called Flahooley (check out this clip of her "Birds / Enchantment" solo number!) Coincidentally, this production marked Barbara Cook's Broadway debut, also.
Jessye Norman
"The Voice That Could Move Mountains"
Signature Recording: "Mild und Leise" from Tristan und Isolde (she starts singing around 5:55 in the video)
Legend has it that Carnegie Hall's entire sound system was destroyed sometime during Jessye Norman's first solo concert at the illustrious venue; the remarkable thing about this is that the sound system was powered off for the entire duration of her performance. Think about that for a second. Jessye Norman's un-amplified singing resonated so profoundly in the acoustic that it rendered the world's most advanced audio equipment inoperable, even when it was just in the same room as her.
...makes you LOL at the poor opera singers who try so hard (and fail) to shatter glass, right?
Jessye Norman's voice was a force of nature by sheer magnitude alone, let alone the vast spectrum of colors she was able to access throughout her entire range. While other voices, at best, would offer shimmering wisps of golden tone in the surrounding air, Ms. Norman's voice was building cathedrals out of her sound. Her massive, sumptuous soprano could expand to seismic proportions, filled with such depth, dignity, and resonance that it felt sacred. And it was sacred.
Cool fact: Jessye Norman's voice is classified as a falcon soprano, which is the rarest vocal classification among singers. Falcon sopranos have the powerful lower range of a contralto on one end, and the titanic high notes of a dramatic soprano on the other.
And yet, within that hurricane of sound, she controlled the finest thread of pianissimo with breathtaking finesse. Norman wasn’t just a voice — she was a tour de fierce—whoops, a tour de force—operating at the absolute summit of technical and emotional mastery.
Cecilia Bartoli
"The Firecracker of Coloratura"
Signature Recording: "Anche il mar par che sommerga"(Hold onto your wigs — this is not for the faint of heart.)
Cecilia Bartoli doesn't sing coloratura passages — she ignites them and shoots them into the stratosphere where they burst in dazzling, enormously impressive displays for those fortunate enough to be in her presence.
Known for her fearless vocal agility, razor-sharp runs, and expressive warmth, Bartoli redefined what a mezzo-soprano could achieve.
Her "Anche il mar par che sommerga" is a pyrotechnic masterclass — no safety net, no compromises, just pure, exhilarating technique at speeds that seem to defy the laws of human possibility.
Mado Robin
"The Queen of the Sky-High Notes"
Signature Recording: "The Bell Song" from Lakmé (Prepare to pee your pants.)
If Ms. Bartoli's agility didn't make you wet your pants, this one is pretty much guaranteed to. Mado Robin’s voice puts Mariah Carey's puny whistle tones to shame.
Her effortless high notes soared above the staff like beams of pure light, often reaching up to the highest pitches ever recorded on video or audio with a shimmering, silvery vibrato that somehow remained tender and human.
At a time when technology was just starting to capture vocal feats for posterity, Mado’s recordings immortalized a sound that still feels impossible today.
Audra McDonald
"The Leading Musical Tragidienne" of Our Time - The New York Times
Signature Recording: "Some People" from Gypsy
When it comes to song interpretation, Audra McDonald stands in a league of her own. A six-time Tony Award winner and one of the most versatile singers in the world, Audra’s voice is a masterclass in technical precision, emotional storytelling, and vocal artistry.
Audra’s gift lies not just in her flawless technique—her shimmering soprano effortlessly glides through demanding operatic roles, jazz standards, and musical theatre ballads—but in her ability to infuse every note with soul and character. She’s the rare kind of artist who can live inside a song, making it feel like it was written just for her, in that very moment. Whether she’s breathing life into classics like "Summertime," redefining musical theatre's best role as Mama Rose in Gypsy, or breaking hearts in "Bill" from Show Boat, Audra doesn’t just sing—she freakin changes lives.
Her impact extends far beyond the stage. Audra is an advocate for social justice, an inspiration to young artists everywhere, and proof that vocal excellence and emotional vulnerability are not mutually exclusive—they’re what make a singer truly great.
If you want to understand what it means to be an extraordinary female singer, just listen to Audra McDonald across the many genres she has perfected. The voice, the presence, the artistry—it’s a masterclass every time she opens her mouth.
More Voices to Be Added Soon...
Got a goddess you think belongs on this list? Let me know in the comments and we'll see if she makes the cut...
The archive of greatness is always expanding — and, thanks to the technological marvel that is audio recording, these legends never truly leave us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes a singer’s voice "extraordinary"?
A: An extraordinary voice often defies normal human limitations — exhibiting superhuman range, extreme agility, stunning tonal beauty, or emotional transcendence that leaves a lasting impression across generations.
Комментарии