This weeks theme: Castrato Singers

In Italy, starting in the 17th century, if a boy was a really good singer they would castrate him before he reached puberty so that his voice wouldn't change. The practice wasn't outlawed until 1870.

It is a weird part of history but one of the last of the castratos was still alive in the early period of phonography and made several recordings.

I don't have any of these records, which is just as well because the whole idea of this creeps me out.

What parent would allow someone to do this to their child?

But it is part of phonographic history.

Here's a Strauss waltz to listen to instead.


Castrato
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrato

BBC web site about this: Singing in the pain
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4853432.stm

Alessandro Moreschi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Moreschi

Alessandro Moreschi (November 11, 1858 - April 21, 1922) was a castrato singer of the late 19th century, and is the only castrato to have made sound recordings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slhhg8sI6Ds&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbV6PGAWaIU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M07Qga3LbcM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNHWpcW00vg


Tales from the Vienna Woods
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Vienna_Woods

Eugene Ormandy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Ormandy


Hey, the Minnesota State Fair starts today.
I'm at least as excited as I was over the Aquatennial.
Try not to wake me up until it's over :-)
I do like corn-dogs though ...