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Aris Cristofellis "Les Castrats au temps de Mozart" features items
composed by the great of the castrati; viz., Aprile,
Guadagni, Rauzzini, and the non-castrato (definitely)
Mozart himself, writing as he did for Rauzzini and Vincenzo
dal Prato.
Oleg Ryabets; (try
him on Olympia's version of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater", singing
the soprano part).
Joerg Waschinski in
Porpora's "Gedeone" and others; there's a remarkable
voice.
Radu Marian of
Romania, offering a pretty varied programme on "Alia
Vox".
Various countertenors, singing on the Capriccio
label: "Die Welt der Kastraten".
Randall Wong: Hasse's
"Cleofide"; (Capriccio) and Vivaldi's "Soprano Cantatas"
issued by Helicon.
Angelo Manzotti
offers "Arie di Farinelli" on Bongiovanni. He has just released
"Handel's Evil arias" (Crude Furie degli arride abissi) ..
lovely title .. on Callisto
Arno Raunig sings
some of Farinelli's arias on the CAFFA label; he is credited with
a remarkable range of over three octaves.
Michael Maniaci is
one to watch and listen, as he sang a brilliant soprano Nero in
Monteverdi's "Incoronazione di Poppaea", performing the role in
Canada; this was originally written for the castrato voice.
One must mention the famous "morphed" version of the
singing in "Farinelli, il castrato", where the countertenor
Derek Lee Ragin is merged, technically, with the soprano Ewa
Mallas-Godlewska on Auvidis-Travelling. The arias included are those
written for Farinelli, by his brother, Riccardo Broschi, and by
Hasse.
But…never forget the authentic record (but not very
good sound) of Alessandro Moreschi, "The Last Castrato"
where 17 recordings are offered on Opal (Pearl), which may finally
lay to rest the belief that so many people have, that he only ever
recorded ONE item! Read the booklet, too.
Some interesting background items: the 3 CD's
presented by Naxos, entitled "Lamenti Barocchi"; the second of
these includes 2 actual laments for the castrati; one anonymous, the
other by Marcello, and who can blame them? The latter may well
have expressed his feelings as a matter very personal to him!
"Castrati en el Romanticismo" has compositions by the next-to-last of the great operatic
castrati, Girolamo Crescentini, who was very much favoured by
Napoleon l.
The male sopranos listed above, who have undertaken
the castrato roles, are not necessarily "hormonal"; they have either
suffered no breaks in their singing voices after puberty, or they have
learned to vibrate the upper sections of their vocal chords more than
the present countertenors can.
Also, "Die Kunst der Kastraten"; a series of
airs written by some of the earlier castrati, but sung by a female
soprano: Vivica Genaux.
"Rossini: Cavatino per musico"; the male
soprano Angelo Manzotti is the singer; the CD is issued by
Bongiovanni.
 Fabrice di
Falco (sopraniste): some Handel: one of Farinelli's brother's arias
included on: "Des oeuvres pour les castrats a la musique
religieuese": featuring: "Ombra fidele"; I am so often
asked for a copy of this score!
"Die Kunst der
Kastraten"; a series of airs written BY some of the earlier
castrati, but sung by a female soprano.
And there are others coming … with the publication
of more and more operas written in the eighteenth century, the right
kind of singer is required to meet these challenges.
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