[alnitak]

Interesting article, if you can get by the usual dumbed-down BBC writing. Follow the link to listen to the "last castrato", Alessandro Moreschi, recorded in 1902.

[alnitak]

I wonder who first came up with this idea and how they sold it. "Just let us chop off your...."

[manwiththehands]

Were not the Bee Gees Castroti as well?

[Graymatter]

One of the earlier---and better---Anne Rice novels was about a castrato. "Cry To Heaven."

[Waco]

Slim Whitman comes to mind for some reason. 10-4

[ahayes]

Ping to self.

[BlessedBeGod]

I listened to it. I'm not impressed. The singing was almost as painful as, well...

[ClearCase_guy]

"Oh, Tito! What are you doing with that knife?"

[Diva]

Well...even by 1902 recording standards he didn't sound all that good! However, from listening to him you can hear the difference between a male falsettist and a castrati. I once read that the only European country to outlaw castration during its heyday, (and put some force behind the law), was France.

[mtbopfuyn]

Handel's era was the heyday of the castrati, but the fashion for their musical style faded

Gee, wonder why.

[stayathomemom]

I heard that clip (sorry) in my History of Vocal Music class at UofM back in the 70's. I new it was an old recording but was under the impression that the singer was much older (see my daughter's comments farther down in this post) when the recording was made. Maybe when you are 19, 44 sounds ancient.
I showed the article to my "brilliant daughter" just now. Here are her comments:
Another thing about castrati that the article mentioned but didn't really STRESS was that castrati weren't just popular among women. Good castrati were considered the best artists in pretty much all of the 18th-century (and late 17th century) stage and it wasn't until Gluck and the beginning of the classical period that women started more typically singing women's roles. Castrati would often have the part of the hero in Handelian-era operas and oratorios which is why you get so many heroic soprano arias in Handel, for instance. They were originally meant for a castrato.
People say that by the time he made that recording, he was already old and past his prime, and it's not in any way indicative of his original abilities, because I think castrati tended to have a fairly short career, but I could be wrong about that

[SlowBoat407]

I hear that voice and all I can think about is the prison that it represents.

I agree with this quote:

"It is unnatural in every way, depending on an operation that is an abomination to every man, and yet if it worked, delivered something that, in the opinion of some of the greatest composers of all time, was the supreme human voice - founded on utter and supreme inhumanity."

There is a hellish quality that goes along with the sound of the voice, knowing that someone has been mutilated for the pleasure of others.

Besides, what good does it do to be adored by women if you can't do anything about it?

[Bear_Slayer]

I'm reminded of the novel, Fools Die by Mario Puzo.

In one chapter, the main character's ex-girlfriend is dating an agent/manager who is trying to convince the parents of a young man, that the boy should be castrated, to maintain his beautiful young singing voice.

The ex-girlfriend is offended at the request at takes the boy into the back room and screws him.

The boy comes rushing out and pops the agent/manager in the mouth.

The implication is that she was showing the boy what he might miss out on if castrated.

[CholeraJoe]

Michael Jackson

[tutstar]

yikes