Forgotten Voices

A candid angel, a bratty popstar and a cunning smuggler: what have they in common? They sacrificed their testicles and gained a splendid voice. In this episode of Italian Culture, we investigate the fascinating world of the castrati singers. From the Baroque era to the Twentieth century, we’ll follow the stories of three emblematic castrati, trying to understand how and why such a joyous expression of human talent had his roots in violence and blood. Today’s guests are Noemi André and Nicholas Clapton.