Comments on: 6 Classical Scandals Straight from the Tabloids

By: Luciana

Luciana — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:55:54 +0000

Actually, the singular is “castrato”, “castrati” is the plural. And back then soprano was applicable to castrati.

By: sara

sara — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:31:37 +0000

Actually that is not true. In that era women were not allowed on stage. So when they needed someone to fill that role in an opera, they hired a “castrati” a man who had been castrated before his fine soprano voice had changed. Hundreds, sometimes thousands were castrated for this very purpose every year, and all to reap a small handfull of fine voices. Many poor parents were willing to sell thier children for this honor, as castrati were considered the “rock stars” of the music world. As a matter of fact, Pope Sixtus V reordered the choir in a papal bull to include castrati. Look up Carafelli and Senesino.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:13:23 +0000

“He was the star soprano in his church choir.”

I believe that the term ‘soprano’ is only applicable to women.