In 18th-century musical culture, castrati were the superstars, mesmerizing audiences with their extraordinary androgynous voices. Countertenor Nicholas Clapton delves into the anatomical and biological aspects of castrati, visiting Bologna, the adopted home of the legendary Farinelli. The film also features American male soprano Michael Maniaci, who performs Mozart's Exultate Jubilate, a piece originally written for castrato Rauzzini, in a British premiere.
Castrato
The film delves into the enigmatic world of castrati, exploring the intricate relationship between their unique physical characteristics and the physical consequences of their surgical transformation.