Castrati singers: what was the price for crystal clear voices centuries ago

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Beautiful operatic voices have been appreciated in all eras. But in the 16th century, the Catholic Church banned women from speaking at the Vatican. They were replaced by male singers. In the end, young talents became men, and their voices broke and became rude. Then, in order to preserve the beauty of the sound of the high voices of the boys, they began to castrate.

1. The whims of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has always adhered to patriarchal principles. In 1588, Pope Sixtus V issued a decree banning female singing on any stage. This created a serious problem for the operatic art, since women's treble were very important. At first, boys were taken to the opera to perform female parts, but due to physiological changes, they could not perform on stage for a long time. The voices simply broke and were no longer suitable for singing. In order for the boys to remain on stage as long as possible, they were simply castrated. The voices stayed high forever.

2. Procedure for changing boys

In the understanding of the stage directors of the time, the transformation of boys into eunuchs was the best way out for art. Gifted young Italians were placed in a hot bath, sedated with sedatives, and the appropriate procedure followed. According to the only document that has survived to this day, it can be understood that in one case the testes were completely removed, and in the other, the blood flow was squeezed, supplying their tissues with oxygen. By the beginning of the 18th century, up to 4,000 boys a year were employed in Italian theaters. 20% did not survive after such castration.

3. The appearance of the castrated singers

As the castrated singers grew older, the lack of testosterone affected their growth. Muscle strength and bone mass decreased. Boys castrated before 10 years old grew up without excess hair on their bodies. Contemporaries said that such singers resembled gentle seraphim angels. However, they also had disproportionately long arms and taller than average height.

4. Sex drive of castrated opera singers

Those boys who underwent castration shortly before puberty continued to develop physically. Some even had sex drive and erections. Since these singers did not have the ability to bear children, many high society ladies often made them their lovers. The Italian castrati singers were perceived by society as a "special gender", so they were of sexual interest to both women and men.

5. Narcissism

Castrates often behaved like true opera divas: they were overly emotional, threw tantrums and put a spoke in the wheels of other performers. In addition, they carefully monitored their appearance not only on stage, but also in everyday life.

6. Popularity achieved only a few

Despite the fact that thousands of talented boys were castrated, only a few became truly popular, rich and loved by the public.

7. Ban on castration in the name of art

Castration in the name of art was officially banned in the early 19th century, but Italian doctors continued to use the procedure until 1870. They really loved in the Sistine Chapel to enjoy the singing of young men and men with crystal clear voices. Alessandro Moreschi became the last castrato singer to perform until his death in 1922. His voice was recorded on a phonograph.

Children's operatic voices not only a few centuries ago, but also today amaze with their beauty and purity of sound. This A 9-year-old girl sang so that tears ran down her cheeks in half of the auditorium.