What's the difference between sopranist, falsetist and countertenor?

Question

And how would you classify Phillipe Jaroussky? (I love his voice, bu the way).

I meant "by the way" ;)
*Thanks.

Answer 1

countertenor is a male who sings in the alto or mezo-soprano range.

Sopranist is a male singer singing in the female soprano range from middle C4 to C6.

falsetto : singing higher than your normal voice range.

Answer 2

In Western Art Music, countertenor and falsetto have more recently been interchangeable. They are males who sing the parts that were originally composed for castrati. An example of a countertenor is Andreas Scholl.

Answer 3

A soprano is the highest natural female singing voice. A countertenor and falsettist are more or less the same thing - a male singer who sings in the alto register by using his falsetto or 'head' voice rather than his chest voice (where he would most likely be a baritone). I have heard a countertenor do a very amusing duet with himself alternating his chest and head voices.

Philippe (please note spelling) Jaroussky is that rare animal, a male soprano, which means he can sing right up in the soprano register in his falsetto voice, rather than the alto register like most men.