Female opera singers; non-beefy wanted

I heard Harnoncourt's Mozart Regina Coeli with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir. The singer was Charlotte Margiono (the online guide stated this). I have zero experience with opera, but I did not like the singer's voice, as it sounded too beefy (like a fat lady). I contrast that to Annie Haslam of Renaissance (yes, a progressive rock singer from the 1970s) who has an equally strong voice, but it is clear and sweet. So, are all female opera singers beefy-sounding or are some more like Annie Haslam or Linda Eder (from the Broadway show circuit)? Or am I getting confused with sopranos versus other singers?

Oops! Thanks for the redirection. I should know better.

I can certainly confirm that Janowitz, Gueden and (for that matter) Freni were not 'beefy'.....or not to my ear anyway. And neither was Janet Baker. Those four, not to mention probably hundreds of others, could 'float' a note to perfection and although not a singer I don't think you do that by being 'beefy'.

Kind regards, Alan M. Watkins

Yes indeed! And to add to my previous post, prompted by your reply, one might add Lisa della Casa in the Four Last Songs who doesn't sound particularly beefy either.

Without having the depth of knowledge of recordings that everyone on here has it might be possible to recommend virtually ANY recording of the Four Last Songs as an example of non-beefy singing!

Or as it's known in the orchestral world (and probably elsewhere): Bel Canto v Can Belto. That is one tough piece for everyone.

Kind regards, Alan M. Watkins

Kind regards, Alan M. Watkins

So was I.

Either that or P.D.Q. Bach's Four Next-to-Last Songs.

Virtually.... But it might be advisable to avoid the recordings by Eva Marton, Gwyneth Jones, Jane Eaglen and (good though it is in other ways) Jessye Norman (and probably one or two others I'm forgetting).

Is that the 'turn off the snares, put pads on the timpani' Gwyneth Jones?

Kind regards, Alan M. Watkins

I don't know - but it seems like you may have an engaging anecdote, so please go ahead. All I can say for now is that Dame Gwyneth's performance, released on CD by Koch for reasons not immediately obvious (an impish sense of humour perhaps?), came a decade or two after her sell-by date expired.