Tina and others,
Wow, now I've really dunnit, didn't I ;)
Since this subject is so close to my heart, I'll try once more to clarify the difference in technique between classical and pop (women) singers, based on what I have read in the (recent) scientific literature.
Strictly speaking there is no such thing as a mix between chest (the heavy vibration mode) and head/falsetto (the light vibration mode) of the vocal cords. However, if a woman singer chooses the point of transition to be low in the range (around E4, depending on voice type) it is possible to make the transition virtually inaudible, both by means of adding weight to the lower head voice (known as middle voice) and also by resonance adjustments. This is what most well trained classical women singers do. Traditionally this is referred to by both singers and teachers as 'adding chest'. However, this is not what is actually happening. What happens is that the cords are adducting better (achieve better closure), which diminishes breathiness and adds more 'edge' to the voice (to 'cut through the orchestra' as you said).
Now, the average female pop singer will choose to make the transition much higher, sometimes even an octave higher. The effect of this is that the voice sounds more 'masculine'. The disadvantage is that the transition into head voice becomes much more obvious since around D5/E5 the difference in timbre between heavy and light mode is unmistakable. If the volume is kept at a moderate level this transition can still sound passable, but if one sings forte in this way, a very conspicuous break can be heard.
Apart from this essential difference in handling the light and heavy vibration patterns in the cords, there is also a difference in resonance adjustment between classical and pop singers (as you already mentioned).
All these differences have much to do with vocal efficiency and carrying power, which are essential for classical singing (it being unamplified), while in pop singing one can afford to be less 'efficient', yet strive for a more 'individual' sound.
To call these two approaches to singing similar to me is the same as calling a horse a fish since evolutionally, horses stem from fish :o).
Wim
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