A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or ( less frequently ) a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely, modal voice.

In Purcell's choral music the situation is further complicated by the occasional appearance of more than one solo part designated " countertenor ", but with a considerable difference in range and tessitura.

Such is the case in Hail, bright Cecilia ( The Ode on St Cecilia's Day 1692 ) in which the solo "' Tis Nature's Voice " has the range F < sub > 3 </ sub > to B < sub > 4 </ sub > ( similar to those stage roles cited previously ), whereas, in the duet " Hark each tree " the countertenor soloist sings from E < sub > 4 </ sub > to D < sub > 5 </ sub > ( in the trio " With that sublime celestial lay ".

In modern usage, the term " countertenor " is essentially equivalent to the medieval term contratenor altus ( see above ).

In this way, a countertenor singer can be operationally defined as a man who sings the countertenor part, whatever vocal style or mechanism is employed.

The countertenor range is generally equivalent to an alto range, extending from approximately G < sub > 3 </ sub > or A < sub > 3 </ sub > to E < sub > 5 </ sub > or perhaps G < sub > 5 </ sub >.

Some authorities do accept them as descriptive of male falsettists, although this view is subject to controversy ; they would reserve the term " countertenor " for men who, like Russell Oberlin, achieve a soprano range voice with little or no falsetto, equating it with haute-contre and the Italian tenor altino.

More rarely it describes the highest male solo voice type ( usually designated countertenor ), and it is also the root word of contralto, the lowest standard female voice type.

Alfred George Deller CBE ( 31 May 1912 – 16 July 1979 ), was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularizing the return of the countertenor voice in Renaissance and Baroque music during the 20th Century, and is sometimes referred to as the ' godfather ' of the counter-tenor.

This voice type is a specific kind of countertenor.

Perhaps his most well known verse anthem is This is the record of John, which sets an Advent text for solo countertenor or tenor, alternating with full chorus.

Little is known about his music education after the death of his father ; his music teachers may have included Jan Willemszoon Lossy, a little-known countertenor and shawm player at Haarlem, and / or Cornelis Boskoop, Sweelinck's father's successor at the Oude Kerk.

Xerxes, originally sung by a castrato, is now generally performed by a mezzo-soprano, contralto or countertenor.

In modern productions, the title role, written for a castrato, is sung by a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or, more frequently in recent years, a countertenor.

* Medusa is played by a countertenor in Jean-Baptiste Lully and Philippe Quinault's opera, Persée ( 1682 ).

The music is performed by the countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, along with the instrumentalists of Ensemble La Fenice.

In modern performances it is generally left to the director to decide whether to use contralto ( or countertenor ) or a lyric tenor.

* Händel's Giulio Cesare: " Julius Caesar " is sung by a mezzo-soprano or countertenor

* Händel's Giulio Cesare: " Sesto " is sung by a mezzo-soprano or countertenor

However, " Farnace " is commonly done by a countertenor.

This is because much 4-voice vocal music of the time possesses the narrower overall range typical of men's voice music with a countertenor on the top ( soprano ) part.

In the second half of the 20th century, the countertenor voice went through a massive resurgence in popularity, partly due to pioneers such as Alfred Deller, by the increased popularity of Baroque opera and the need of male singers to replace the castrati roles in such works.

Many modern composers other than Britten have written, and continue to write, countertenor parts, both in choral works and opera, as well as songs and song-cycles for the voice.

The renowned countertenor, Iestyn Davies, interviewed by Mark Lawson on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on 16 December 2009, referred to Wilson's lead on " Good Vibrations " as " wonderful male alto solo ; exactly the same sound you'd hear from a good singer in a cathedral or on a Baroque opera stage.

( Men sometimes sing in the " female " vocal ranges, in which case they are termed sopranist or countertenor.

When his voice broke, he continued singing in his high register, eventually settling as a countertenor.

Other recent operatic parts written for the countertenor voice include Edgar in Aribert Reimann's Lear ( 1978 ), the title role in Philip Glass's Akhnaten ( 1983 ), Claire in John Lunn's The Maids ( 1998 ), the Refugee in Jonathan Dove's Flight ( 1999 ), and Trinculo in Thomas Adès's The Tempest ( 2004 ).

During the Romantic period, the popularity of the countertenor voice waned and few compositions were written with that voice type in mind.

Today, much of the repertoire sung by a countertenor was originally written for a castrato.

He also sang the Captain in Wozzeck and, the roles of Oberon ( A Midsummer Night's Dream ) and the Emperor Nero, both of which were originally written for countertenor.

Benjamin Britten wrote the leading role of Oberon in his setting of A Midsummer Night's Dream ( 1960 ) especially for him ; the countertenor role of Apollo in Britten's Death in Venice ( 1973 ) was created by James Bowman, the best-known amongst the next generation of English countertenors.

Klaus Sperber ( January 24, 1944 – August 6, 1983 ), better known as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona.

* More Than A Day ( 1995 ), for soprano / countertenor & chamber orchestra

* And Farewell Goes Out Sighing ... for violin, countertenor and orchestra ( 1999 )

* Justin Montigne, countertenor, singer for Clerestory

Plantamura appears in six recordings of 17th century Italian vocal music that The Five Centuries Ensemble made for the Fonit Cetra / Italia label in Italy ( including works by d ' India, Monteverdi, Luzzaschi, Gagliano, Frescobaldi, and A. Scarlatti — other ensemble members on the recordings include soprano Martha Herr, countertenor Thomas, lutenist Jürgen Hübscher, viola da gambist Martha McGaughey, and harpsichordist Arthur Haas ).

English composer Geoffrey Burgon wrote a duet ( This Eane Night ) for two countertenors ( recorded by James Bowman and Charles Brett ) with words altered slightly to fit the canonical single melody, the second countertenor starting one bar behind the first.

Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for boy treble or countertenor, solo quartet, choir and orchestra ( 3 trumpets in B, 3 trombones, timpani, percussion players, 2 harps, and strings ).

Bernstein stated explicitly in his writing that the part for countertenor may be sung by either a countertenor or a boy soprano, but never by a woman.

* Canticle of Joy for countertenor and tenor solo, mixed choir and orchestra ( 1994 )

* Whom time will not reprieve, four songs for countertenor and viola ( 1989 )

Originally composed to be sung by a soprano castrato ( and sung in modern performances of Serse by a countertenor, contralto or a mezzo-soprano ), it has often been arranged for other voice types and instruments, including solo organ, solo piano, violin and piano, and string ensembles, often under the title " Largo from Xerxes ", although the original tempo was larghetto.

He then sang for the tenor / countertenor Herbert Klein, who advised him that there were only two places he should study: either in London or at the early music conservatoire in Basel, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.