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Monday, April 03, 2006In 17th and 18th Century Italy, about 4,000 boys were castrated each year, from the age of eight upwards, with the aim of making a fortune as opera singers and soloists with choirs in churches and royal palaces. The castrato's voice was prized for its combination of high pitch and power - with the unbroken voice able to reach the high notes, but delivered with the strength of an adult male. Composers were enthusiastic about the more complex musical possibilities of these voices - and music lovers turned these exotic figures into the pop idols of their day. "The best castrati were superstars, adored by female fans. Their voices had a tremendous emotional impact on the audiences of the day" ....The last-ever performing castrato, and the only one recorded, was Alessandro Moreschi, who was supposedly applauded by crowds with the call "Eviva il coltello" ("Long live the knife!"). Yikes! Handel loved to write for the castrati, and if you're in London, you can stop by his old house and see how families turned their boys into would-be muscial superstars in the eighteenth century. You can hear the last of the castrati here. posted by Sydney on 4/03/2006 07:27:00 PM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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