The Lost Voices: The Dramatic Legacy of Castrati in Classical Music

The phenomenon of castrati flourished from the mid-16th to the late 18th century, particularly in Italian opera and church choirs where women were forbidden to sing. These singers possessed the lung capacity of an adult combined with the short vocal cords of a child, producing voices that were not only incredibly high but also exceptionally strong and sustained. Famous castrati like Farinelli (Carlo Broschi) were revered superstars, capable of dazzling audiences with their virtuosic performances, though the practice itself remains a controversial and ethically complex chapter in music history.