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The Castrato: A Novel
All the pomp and pageantry of eighteenth century Europe come vibrantly to life in this glittering novel of a brilliant opera star, his triumphant career, and his tempestuous personal life.
Set against the dazzling courts of Madrid and Vienna, the glamorous opera houses of London, Paris, and Rome, THE CASTRATO is the story of Carlo Broschi, detto Farinelli, who actually was the most celebrated musical figure of his time. A male soprano with a bell-like voice which captivated men and woman like, Farinelli began life as a simple Italian peasant. The cruel mutilation which enabled him to sing in the choir of a Benedictine monastery preserved a voice of rare beauty--a gift which would carry him from an obscure Italian conservatory to the heights of European society. Here Farinelli would meet all the greats of the eighteenth century, from Pitt, Burke, and Chesterfield to Handel and Scarlatti. And here, despite his official status as a castrato, he would conquer the most beautiful women of his time.
Alive with court intrigues, clandestine romances, and the horrors of the eighteenth century Spanish Inquisition, THE CASTRATO is a powerful example of historical fiction at its very best.
Set against the dazzling courts of Madrid and Vienna, the glamorous opera houses of London, Paris, and Rome, THE CASTRATO is the story of Carlo Broschi, detto Farinelli, who actually was the most celebrated musical figure of his time. A male soprano with a bell-like voice which captivated men and woman like, Farinelli began life as a simple Italian peasant. The cruel mutilation which enabled him to sing in the choir of a Benedictine monastery preserved a voice of rare beauty--a gift which would carry him from an obscure Italian conservatory to the heights of European society. Here Farinelli would meet all the greats of the eighteenth century, from Pitt, Burke, and Chesterfield to Handel and Scarlatti. And here, despite his official status as a castrato, he would conquer the most beautiful women of his time.
Alive with court intrigues, clandestine romances, and the horrors of the eighteenth century Spanish Inquisition, THE CASTRATO is a powerful example of historical fiction at its very best.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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April 14, 2010
The story of Carlo Broschi, famous castrato and subject of the movie Farinelli. A rather sad tale of the cost of fame and fortune though, according to this telling, Farinelli made the best of it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review