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Moreschi Nicholas Clapton

Moreschi By Nicholas Clapton

Moreschi by Nicholas Clapton


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Summary

In his own lifetime, Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) was known as the Angel of Rome. He was the last surviving castrato singer of the Sistine Chapel choir, and the only one of the castrati whose voice survives in any solo recording.

Moreschi Summary

Moreschi: And the Voice of the Castrato by Nicholas Clapton

In his own lifetime, Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) was known as the Angel of Rome. He was the last surviving castrato singer of the Sistine Chapel choir, and the only one of the castrati whose voice survives in any solo recording. The ethereal, haunting quality of his voice hints at why this extraordinary sound was so highly prized for centuries in the opera houses of Europe. The castrato tradition became established in Italy in the late 16th century, when Pope Clement VIII gave it his sanction. By the 17th century the castrati had moved onto the secular operatic stage, where they were feted as the pop stars' of their day. Few normal' singers, male or female, came close to matching their fame and success. But by the 19th century their continued existence had become an embarrassment, and when Moreschi joined the Sistine Chapel in 1883, there were only six castrati left in the choir, and by 1903 they were officially no more. The strange and lonely life of Alessandro Moreschi was lived in the shadows of great events and great institutions, his personality glimpsed only by inference and allusion. Written by an acclaimed musicologist, who as a counter-tenor has performed much of the repertoire written for castrati, this is a perceptive and informed study of the last survivor of a perennially intriguing part of Western cultural history.

Moreschi Reviews

'... In an immaculately produced and beautifully illustrated short volume, Clapton sets the castrato in a historical context ... Clapton is excellent on the physical and psychological effects of castration as experienced by Moreschi ... a valuable historical record of a nearly forgotten art.' -- Andrew Green Classical Music 'Invaluable ... a fascinating account of the relations between the Vatican and Italy during the last half of the 19th century ... Clapton's story is told with wit, compassion and elegance.' -- Michael Tanner BBC Music Magazine

About Nicholas Clapton

A Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music, Nicholas Clapton's 20-year career as a counter-tenor has seen him particularly involved in performing the repertoire of the great castrati. In 2006 he presented a television documentary on the castrato voice for BBC 4, and in the same year he also curated the hugely successful 'Handel and the Castrati' exhibition at the Handel House, London.

Additional information

GOR004378680
9781905791422
1905791429
Moreschi: And the Voice of the Castrato by Nicholas Clapton
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Haus Publishing
20081031
354
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Moreschi