First there was FARINELLI,
the movie about the castrato Carlo Maria Broschi, known as Farinelli (1705-1782) with huge successes in Italy and London, later in Spain where some advanced thinking contemporary physicians, such as the Spanish Queen's doctor Giuseppe Cervi, believed in music therapy, as did the queen!
Farinelli was named chamber musician to the king and never sang again in public.
For the next 9 years, he gave nightly private concerts to the royal couple.
After Philip's death, under King Ferdinand VI, who 'was a keen musician, and his wife, Barbara of Portugal, more or less a musical fanatic (in 1728 she had appointed Domenico Scarlatti as her harpsichord teacher; the musicologist Ralph Kirkpatrick acknowledges Farinelli's correspondence as providing "most of the direct information about Scarlatti that has transmitted itself to our day")' Farinelli was officially received into the ranks of the nobility, as a Knight of the Order of Calatrava in 1750. 'Although much courted by diplomats, Farinelli seems to have managed to keep out of politics!'
Would that some current actors follow his example, eh?Farinelli was named chamber musician to the king and never sang again in public.
For the next 9 years, he gave nightly private concerts to the royal couple.
After Philip's death, under King Ferdinand VI, who 'was a keen musician, and his wife, Barbara of Portugal, more or less a musical fanatic (in 1728 she had appointed Domenico Scarlatti as her harpsichord teacher; the musicologist Ralph Kirkpatrick acknowledges Farinelli's correspondence as providing "most of the direct information about Scarlatti that has transmitted itself to our day")' Farinelli was officially received into the ranks of the nobility, as a Knight of the Order of Calatrava in 1750. 'Although much courted by diplomats, Farinelli seems to have managed to keep out of politics!'
Now there is THE LAST CASTRATO,
the play about the Castrato Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) whose,
admittedly, somewhat past his prime voice was recorded and can be heard.
His career was not as illustrious as Farinelli's, but that he did record songs and arias
enables the music historians and ultra curious listeners to 'study' even if not exactly enjoy the recordings, because, let's be honest, he was way past his best at the time of these technologically poor (to ears used to digital or blue tooth) recordings.
admittedly, somewhat past his prime voice was recorded and can be heard.
His career was not as illustrious as Farinelli's, but that he did record songs and arias
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| Actors A. Godfarb & J. Pinion Photo Ashley Anderson |
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