In this episode, I explore the history and impact that Castrati made on the musical scene of the time. They were indeed a powerful force, both literally and figuratively in shaping musical dexterity, virtuosity, and prowess.
Fun Fact
Alessandro Moreschi was the last castrato to sing in the Sistine Chapel choir. He would retire in 1913, thus ending the Castrati legacy.
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Hi, I’m Steven Hobé.
So, who were the castrati? Well, they were male singers who were castrated before puberty, one of the side effects being that they could hit and retain very high notes.
The operation itself was never legal and likely performed by some questionable members of the medical profession.
Families would create elaborate backstories of their sons getting into accidents, such as falling off horses or being attacked by wild boars.
Castrato singers first appeared in Europe in the mid-16th century. But really hit their stride in the 17th and 18th centuries on the operatic stage.
Castrati would wow audiences by holding notes for a superhuman amount of time with skill and dexterity.
One such star of the stage was known as Farinelli, who could hit an A below middle C up to the D two octaves above middle C. Wow indeed!
At the end of the 19th-century hiring castrati was banned by the church. Today women or countertenors adopt these roles into their repertoire.