Page "Castration" Paragraph 32

In Europe, when women were not permitted to sing in church or cathedral choirs in the Roman Catholic Church, boys were castrated to prevent their voices breaking at puberty and to develop a special high voice.

The first documents mentioning castrati are Italian church records from the 1550s.

In the baroque and classical music eras these singers were highly appreciated by opera composers as well.

Mozart's Exultate Jubilate, Allegri's Miserere and other famous pieces from this period now sung by sopranos and countertenors were written for castrati.

Some of the alto parts of Handel's Messiah were first sung by a castrato.

Famous castrati include Farinelli, Senesino, Carestini, and Caffarelli.

Joseph Haydn was almost castrated.

The last castrato was Alessandro Moreschi ( 1858 – 1922 ) who served in the Sistine Chapel Choir.

It was not until the late 19th century, that the Roman Catholic Church officially condemned the production of castrati.