castrati
Noun
The word is derived from castrato
Synonyms
Examples
Caffarelli was also typical of many castrati in being famous for tantrums on and off-stage, and for amorous adventures with noble ladies. see Heriot, p. 141–154 Some, as described by Casanova, preferred gentlemen (noble or otherwise).
In 1589, by the bull Cum pro nostro pastorali munere, Pope Sixtus V re-organised the choir of St Peter's, Rome specifically to include castrati.
There were homosexual castrati, as Casanova 's accounts of 18th-century Italy bear witness.
The traditional model for opera seria had three acts, dealt with serious subjects in mythical settings, as stated above, and used high voices (both sopranos and castrati ) for principal characters, often even for monarchs.
It seems likely that the Spanish tradition of soprano falsettists may have hidden castrati.
Musical Times 114(1561): 250-252 Thus the castrati came to supplant both boys (whose voices broke after only a few years) and falsettists (whose voices were weaker and less reliable) from the top line in such choirs.