tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post1841401885741205110..comments2023-06-01T09:22:18.917+01:00Comments on Liturgiae Causa: Castrati...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post-10253537290185127422010-07-31T13:29:14.825+01:002010-07-31T13:29:14.825+01:00The castrati are remembered as having very high bu...The castrati are remembered as having very high but powerful voices. Think of the power of a large baritone with the range of a mezzo-soprano. Most of the important male roles in Handel operas were written for castrati. Nowadays, they re-perform those roles using either counter-tenors or women in drag. Here is an example:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRe16N_UziY<br /><br />Pretty, but I am sure that it is not the same.<br /><br />As for the whole, "why did they do that back then?", you tell me. On your way to your usurious bank, in a city partially governed by women, while reading your Catholic theology book that admits that we probably physically descended from apes (though Genesis is a useful "mythology" as JPII called it). Newman once said that to be in touch with history is to cease to be Protestant. I say: even more in touch with history, and you cease to be anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post-56777792625908035352010-07-30T01:24:28.079+01:002010-07-30T01:24:28.079+01:00Are you aware of the novel "The Alteration&qu...Are you aware of the novel "The Alteration" by Kingsley Amis. Its themes include castrati in an alternative England that never became Protestant.davidforsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603145004197815827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post-71367009881357297252010-07-29T21:23:31.350+01:002010-07-29T21:23:31.350+01:00There was an interesting programme on BBC radio ab...There was an interesting programme on BBC radio about this a short time ago; I think it was The Early Music Show, Radio 3 (Sats. & Suns.). You may be able to track it down and listen to it on playback. I think I still have my LP copy of The Last Castrato, which was a terrible disappointment, excepting the recherche music on it, but much of the problem was one of aged recording,I think. Alan RobinsonPatrick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06842210667116916384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post-77886144703861810942010-07-29T18:33:18.387+01:002010-07-29T18:33:18.387+01:00Whilst I share your distaste - revulsion, even ? -...Whilst I share your distaste - revulsion, even ? - for the <i>castrati</i>, a little investigation shows that they very often became famous and wealthy; and, incidentally, that by no means all of them were physically unable to achieve sexual gratification - indeed, quite a number were very popular with the ladies !<br />As you say, a distasteful phenomenon, but not always quite as black as you have painted it.Dominic Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14514722976964423091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192580971664762668.post-40861033273557955972010-07-29T17:12:04.252+01:002010-07-29T17:12:04.252+01:00Mme. M: "Whose blog's that you've got...Mme. M: "Whose blog's that you've got your nose in?"<br /><br />M: "Patricius"<br /><br />Mme. M: "What's he on about today?"<br /><br />M: "B******s"<br /><br />Mme. M: "No change there, then...."Anagnostishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03706938507885553293noreply@blogger.com