Oh, you're fine. I figured if I posted about this that someone for whom it was Their Thing would likely reply, and that's not bad. :) I don't have any training as a singer either, so my perspective is as a listener and as someone who's had friends who were classically trained, not as someone with direct experience.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's something restricted to trans women, because they're more likely to have the advantage of longer vocal cords.

Great point, and I'm glad you brought it up. Trans women's voices are women's voices too, and are often forgotten. I suspect that as trans people continue to gain acceptance in society, there'll be more exploration of what trans voices can do. Dana International was a pioneer in the pop genre, but I can't name any well-known trans women classical singers off the top of my head.

the designated contralto has the wrong sort of voice for early music. She produces her tone in a very - I don't know, nasal? - way, more suited to pop or folk music. And she's all over the pitch, often sliding flat.

Folk music is what her singing reminded me of too, which might be why I heard some notes as intentionally blue rather than off-pitch? I also wouldn't say she has the wrong sort of voice, but perhaps not the usual training — or was not using that training here. Such a difference between inherent vocal potential and in what one is actually taught to do with the voice!