This was discussed at length in a fascinating BBC Radio 3 programme, some years ago. During that programme, someone made the point that judging from the recording you could almost imagine that Moreschi wasn't a castrato at all, but using falsetto. It was postulated that he might have masqueraded as a castrato to further his career. This is an interesting point, and one that probably is never going to be resolved. But it leaves us with an even bigger question over the Moreschi recordings.
Monday, 27 March 2006
Castrati Ho
The press is currently full of articles about castrati, as the Handel House has a fascinating new exhibition on the subject. The only known recording of a castrato is that of Alessandro Moreschi, who worked in the Papal choir during the early 20th century. The problem with this recording is the Moreschi is relatively elderly and his technique involves the rather bizarre attacking of notes via grace notes as far as a 10th away from the destination note. This gives his vocal line a peculiar gulping, swooping quality.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts this month
-
Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra I get all sorts of mail, people sending my information on concerts and recordings. Everything gets gl...
-
Handel Suites de Pièces nos 1-4, 1720; Pierre Hantaï; Mirare Reviewed by Robert Hugill on 4 December 2020 Star rating: 5.0 (★★★★★)...
-
My top CD this year must be the world premiere recording of Ethel Smyth's late masterwork The Prison , an amazing discovery and a terrif...
-
Tippett: The Heart's Assurance - Tom Elwin, English Touring Opera The week leading up to Christmas Day got off to a great musical sta...
-
Vincent Larderet (Photo Karis Kennedy) The French pianist Vincent Larderet 's most recent discs have involved the music of his countryme...
-
Haydn String Quartets Op.74 , Folk music from Scotland; Maxwell Quartet; Linn Records Reviewed by Robert Hugill on 31 December 2020...
-
Donizetti Il Paria ; Albina Shagimuratova, René Barbera, Misha Kiria, Marko Mimica, Britten Sinfonia, Sir Mark Elder; Opera Rara Revi...
-
Aberdene 1662 , Songs from John Forbes' Songs and Fancies ; Maria Valdmaa, Mikko Perkola; ERP Reviewed by Robert Hugill on 11 J...
-
Puccini: Tosca - Kristján Jóhannsson, Claire Rutter - Icelandic Opera 2017 (Photo Johanna Olafsdottir) All is not happy in opera in the Lan...
-
Lee Hoiby: Bon Appetit! - Jamie Barton as Julia Child This week's listening has been quite varied, with Brahms, Mozart and Beethoven al...

No comments:
Post a comment