Article: Her voice is commanding, and so is her presence ; Renowned Polish contralto takes on role of Tancredi

When Ewa Podles sings, people listen. Her rare contralto voice, the lowest female variety, grabs the audience right by the ears, with its chocolate-rich intensity, androgynous depth, and throbbing, smoky pulse.

But the seductive vocal instrument Podles has been wielding in the world's great opera houses for decades now is only part of the story. Onstage, this proudly Polish diva from Warsaw takes command like the general of an army. Her commitment to any role, be it the earth-goddess Erda in Wagner's "Ring" cycle or Julius Caesar in Handel's "Giulio Cesare," is so total as to be terrifying. Some critics have even advised listeners to fasten their seat belts when she makes an entrance.

This ...

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