Caffarelli
Lucie Skeaping on the life and performances of 18th-century castrato Caffarelli.
The Early Music Show · BBC Radio 3
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Show Notes
The 18th-century singer Caffarelli expressed a wish to be castrated when he was just ten years old - already wanting a career in music. He flourished into one of Europe's finest singers, and enjoyed great fame - and notoriety - for almost forty years, amassing a great fortune along the way.
Many composers of the day created roles for him in their productions, including Handel, Porpora, Hasse, Pergolesi and Gluck.
Lucie Skeaping explores Caffarelli's extraordinary life and career with music from recordings by Franco Fagioli, Max Emmanuel Cencic, Andreas Scholl and Simone Kermes, among others.