[Magdalen] Counter-tenors

[Roger Stokes]

I have long thought that traditional men and boys choirs have suffered 
from a lack of depth in the Alto part. This evening I have been 
listening to the transmission of a concert version of Handel's opera 
"Ariodante". While the title role (which was originally sung by a 
castrato) was sung by a mezzo-soprano another major male roile was sung 
by a counter-tenor. This is in the vocal range of an Alto but has far 
more depth of timbre than can be offered by men singing falsetto.

Roger