Observations on the Castrati in Britain

Download or read book Observations on the Castrati in Britain written by Paul F. Rice and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2022-12-08 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book highlights the experiences of castrato singers in Britain during the long eighteenth-century. These singers stood apart from traditional cultural and sexual norms of the period by nature of their altered bodies. The work investigates the fears surrounding the possibility of Catholic influence in the nation, and the ability of sensual Italian operatic music to feminize the male population and weaken the country’s leaders. The castrato as a possible romantic rival to “normal” men is also discussed, while the contributions of the castrati to cultural leadership in the areas of teaching, concert direction and social influence are examined. This book will appeal to music historians and those interested in cultural and gender studies.