male alto

noun

1. countertenor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of male alto¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Dumaux, a penetrating male alto, proved a breezy Caesar.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms. Rial shared the vocal numbers in this 90-minute program with the male alto Vincenzo Capezzuto, and alas, I — alone, to judge from the audience response — couldn’t develop a taste for his boyish, bodiless sound.

From New York Times

The countertenor voice, in the sense defined by Tippett as "a male alto voice of exceptional range and facility", had fallen into decline by the early 19th century, restricted to the choir stalls of English cathedrals and churches and the striped blazers of barbershop groups.

From The Guardian

By the end of the 19th century the voice type had all but vanished; on the rare occasions when baroque operas were staged, the male alto roles were typically taken over by women in drag.

From Time Magazine Archive

To further befuddle historians, Handel was continually juggling arias to fit whatever boy soprano, male alto or countertenor happened along.

From Time Magazine Archive