Dear Tako and List:
I found this web site which has two short sound clips (see http://www.guitarfoundation.org/hezy.html). The singer refers to himself as a "tenor altino" which I think is more or less the same as a "haute-contre" - a natural high voice with an easy "gear change" into a light production. As another example, I believe British tenor Rogers Covey-Crump, heard on many recordings with the Hilliard Ensemble and other groups, is a haute-contre.
As I believe Tako and others have pointed out, above a certain pitch it is generally believed that all of the higher male voices (countertenor, "alto", tenor-altino, haute-contre, sopranist) do the same thing (that is, use a similar kind of vocal registration), so the distinction is really what happens in somewhat lower pitch ranges. I think that haute-contres sing through the passagio (say up to say G4 - above middle C - or even higher for some) much as tenors, but then instead of going into an "operatic" type head-voice they go into a more counter-tenor like head-voice. Certain barbershop "tenors" fit this description - I think particularly of Gene Cokeroft of the famous Suntones - if I get a chance I'll post a short clip of Gene.
Cheers,
Michael Gordon
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