countertenor

(redirected from Countertenors)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.

coun·ter·ten·or

(koun′tər-tĕn′ər)

1. An adult male voice with a range above that of tenor.

2. A singer having a voice within this range.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

countertenor

(ˌkaʊntəˈtɛnə)

1. (Music, other) an adult male voice with an alto range

2. (Music, other) a singer with such a voice

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

coun•ter•ten•or

(ˈkaʊn tərˌtɛn ər)

n.

1. a tenor who can approximate the vocal range of a female alto without resort to falsetto.

2. a voice part for a countertenor.

[1350–1400; Middle English, appar. < Anglo-French; compare Middle French contreteneur, Italian contratenore=contra- contra-² + tenore tenor]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	countertenor - a male singer with a voice above that of a tenor alto - a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef
	2.	countertenor - the highest adult male singing voice alto singing voice - the musical quality of the voice while singing
Adj.	1.	countertenor - of or being the highest male voice; having a range above that of tenor alto high-pitched, high - used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency

Translations

countertenor

[ˈkaʊntəˌtenəʳ]

A. N → contratenor m

B. CPD [voice] → de contratenor

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

countertenor

counter-tenor [ˈkaʊntə^rtɛnə^r] n → haute-contre mcounter-terrorism counterterrorism [ˌkaʊntə^rˈtɛrərɪzəm]

n → antiterrorisme m

modif [official, expert, agent] → de l'antiterrorismecounter-terrorist [ˌkaʊntə^rˈtɛrərɪst] adj → antiterroriste

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

countertenor

[ˌkaʊntəˈtɛnəʳ] n → tenore m leggero

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

This production included two gifted countertenors: Sean Jordan, as Nerone, and Mason Boudrye, as Ottone.

Halifax Summer Opera Festival

Jerod Reetz: What repertoire do you begin with when teaching countertenors interested in performing in male church choirs or as a soloist?

Contemporary Perspectives on the Countertenor: Interviews with Kai Wessel, Corinna Herr, Arnold Jacobshagen, and Matthias Echternach

The music is eclectic (if you like it) or a hotchpotch of disparate styles (if you don't): Bach chorales with a chorus of three countertenors, gospel, Latin American dance rhythms and a dash of rock.

Classical; CD RELEASES

Composed of a bass, two baritones, a tenor and two countertenors, The King's Singers are "unmatched for their sheer musicality and ability to entertain" (The Times, London).

One of the world's most celebrated vocal ensembles, The King's Singers, perform Feb. 1 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at Macomb Community College (Mich.)

In the last year or so, my love of Mozart's operas has extended backward to Handel's, and I have developed a passion for countertenors. Their in-betweenness fascinates me.

What Is Home?

Countertenors are a handful of gifted male singers who truly can hit the high notes in the falsetto style that was most popular in 17th Century choral performances, and 31-year-old Iestyn will be demonstrating his considerable talent at Northumberland's Brinkburn Music Festival this weekend.

Vocal feast at Brinkburn

This gives him a strong lower register where many countertenors are strained or thin.

Taking on the divine monster's mantle

"His Italian was awful, so that will need a bit of work, but he is only starting out, so it could be the beginning of a good career." Howard highlighted the success of modern countertenors such as David Daniels, from South Carolina, who is this year touring the US and Europe, as they become more en vogue.

Greg could have an opera future if he's willing to work, says star; Britain's Got Talent hopeful has what it takes, says Jason

So rare is the gift, there are just a handful of prominent countertenors worldwide.

Time Off: TEEN IDOL Opera; Your complete family leisure guide Jenny Williams talks to a rising star who just loves to hit the high notes

2) Giulio Cesare (Los Angeles Opera) Countertenors David Daniels, David Walker, and Bejun Mehta hit a new high.

10 best of the year: stage. (Theater)

Boffo mezzo Cecilia Bartoli along with countertenors David Daniels and Daniel Taylor lead a terrific cast.

Handel Redux - Recommended Recordings

The opening scene finds a trio of countertenors sharing the stage: perhaps a superabundance of this once rare but now thriving vocal category.