A countertenor is not one of the more common voice types, but its distinctive quality makes it stand out in any opera or production. But what defines a countertenor – and what is the range of a typical countertenor? Exactly how high do they go?
What is a countertenor?
Generally speaking, music ranges are split between soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with the soprano range containing the highest notes and bass containing the lowest. As men’s voices tend to be naturally lower than women’s, adult male singers generally fall within the tenor and bass ranges (though most likely tenor). However, men who are able to manipulate their vocal cords to sing in the higher registers – i.e., those above the range of a tenor – are known as countertenors.
What range does a countertenor sing?
Countertenors are, give or take, able to sing the same range of notes as female contralto and mezzo-soprano singers. Contralto falls within the alto range and is the lowest range of female voices, while mezzo-sopranos are somewhere between altos and sopranos, not being able to hit the lowest notes of the former range nor the highest notes of the latter.
So, how do the different ranges compare? Roughly speaking, a tenor’s range runs from C3 (an octave below middle C) to G4 (the G above middle C). A countertenor’s range goes from around G3 to E5, while an alto ranges from F3 to D5, a mezzo-soprano from A3 to F5 and a soprano from C4 (middle C) to A5.
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Who are the famous countertenors from history?
Jakub Józef Orliński
The Polish breakdancing countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński (b.1990) is, without a doubt, the most famous countertenor working today, appearing on the March 2024 issue of BBC Music Magazine. In the magazine's history, only one countertenor other than Jakub Józef Orliński has had the cover of the magazine to themselves: the next contender on this list.
Andreas Scholl
German Andreas Scholl (b.1967) made BBC Music Magazine's cover in 1998 and then again in 2005. While it may not be often that a countertenor graces our cover, at least the voice type enjoys a far higher profile today that it did, say, a century ago.
Alfred Deller
Deeply unfashionable until the mid-20th century, countertenors have Alfred Deller (1912-79) to thank for thrusting them back into the limelight. Though renowned largely for his performances of early music, Deller enjoyed the approval of composers such as Tippett and Britten, the latter of whom wrote the role of Oberon in 1960’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with him in mind.
James Bowman
Britten later fashioned the part of Apollo in Death in Venice (1973) for countertenor James Bowman (1941-2023).
John Whitworth
Along with Alfred Deller, his contemporary John Whitworth (1921-2013) helped develop a resurgence in the popularity of Baroque opera – and, with it, the rise of the countertenor.
Russell Oberlin
The rise in popularity of the countertenor was matched across the Atlantic by Russell Oberlin (1928-2016).
Michael Chance
Another to follow in the famous falsetto footsteps of his forefathers, Michael Chance (b.1955) has developed a career beyond the stage as artistic director of The Grange Festival.
Iestyn Davies
Iestyn Davies (b.1979) has developed a career on both the opera and recital stages of the UK and beyond, singing with the English National Opera, the Royal Opera and with orchestras as a soloist.
René Jacobs
The Belgian countertenor René Jacobs (b.1946) has spent the latter part of his career working predominantly as a conductor of Baroque and classical opera with a range of ensembles around Europe.
Reginald Mobley
The American countertenor Reginald Mobley (b.1977) became known on the UK stages in 2023 when he brought American spirituals to the 2023 Proms and also performed at the Coronation of King Charles III.
Philippe Jaroussky
Frenchman Philippe Jaroussky (b.1978) began his musical life as a violinist, but turned to singing when he found the strength of his falsetto.
Yoshikazu Mera
With an octave of 3.5 octaves, Japan’s Yoshikazu Mera (b.1971) frequently appears as a soloist with the Bach Collegium Japan under its conductor Masaaki Suzuki.
Visit our musical terms dictionary to find out about other musical definitions you may not know.
Top image: Polish countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski by Getty Images
