Hi I'm a coloratura contralto..I've had to travel miles to find a true contralto teacher and I'm similar to Kathleen ferrier. Ewa podles. I can only describe contralto as chocolate dark and deep. Sounds like chest voice through most the range. Sing very low including tenor range with a deep resonance and very dark tessiture. Head voice is overly light but not comfortable and don't like being up there very long... Notes sound lower than sopranos and mezzos even though they are the same notes sung...most people get mezzos labelled as contraltos when they are true mezzos.. It's took me a long time to find someone who understands my contralto voice...;-(