castrato
Surgically altered singer
A castrato was a male singer castrated before puberty to preserve his high vocal range into adulthood.
The practice produced voices of unusual power and flexibility, prized in Italian opera from the 17th through 19th centuries.
The plural is castrati.
The term now appears mainly in historical discussions of Baroque music.
Highest female voice range
- trebleHigh frequency range
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- melismaMulti-note syllable singing
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
timbre · vocal range · falsetto · head voice · resonance · pitch · portamento · agility
Castrated male servant
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
- BaroqueOrnate artistic period
- VaticanPapal city-state
- church choirsReligious vocal groups
Italian opera · court musician · mutilation · prepubescent · Naples · Bologna · emasculation · patronage
Operatic solo piece
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
libretto · stage · diva · leading role · premiere · oratorio · cantata · theatrical
High-voiced male singer
- revivalReturn after decline
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- legacyWhat's passed down
film · documentary · musicology · authenticity · reconstruction
soprano
Highest female voice range
- trebleHigh frequency range
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- melismaMulti-note syllable singing
vibrato · timbre · vocal range · falsetto · head voice · resonance · pitch · portamento · agility · ornamentation
eunuch
Castrated male servant
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
- BaroqueOrnate artistic period
- VaticanPapal city-state
church choirs · Italian opera · court musician · mutilation · prepubescent · Naples · Bologna · emasculation · patronage · celebrity
aria
Operatic solo piece
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
recitative · libretto · stage · diva · leading role · premiere · oratorio · cantata · theatrical
countertenor
High-voiced male singer
- revivalReturn after decline
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
legacy · film · documentary · musicology · authenticity · reconstruction
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- vocalistssinger, vocalist, soloist, songstress, songster
- operaopera, aria, arias, soprano, tenor
- Baroque MusiciansBach, Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Purcell
- opera singerssoprano, tenor, baritone, mezzo-soprano, contralto
- vocal rangessoprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass
castratobass
Deep pitch or fish
basso · baritone · bass-baritone · tenor
- castration anxietyDread of losing male organs
- chemical castrationHormone therapy eliminating fertility
castrate, castration, castrating, uncastrated, castrations, castrati