The Castrato Sacrifice: Was it Justified? Page: 49
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Tsar (Heriot 1975). Farinelli remained there for 22 years, long after Philip V had passed away.
His concerns ran to such projects as the dredging and canalization of the Tagus River. Other
enterprises are detailed in his frequent letters to Metastasio, who remained his confidant
throughout the years. Under Ferdinand VI, he was granted even more power by being named
Commander of the Order of Calatrava. His gentle demeanor, despite his authoritarian position,
earned him great respect throughout the country of Spain. Stories of his benevolence and
generosity helped solidify his already stellar reputation.
An opera lover, the new Queen, Barbara of Portugal, opened a new court opera house,
over which Farinelli was made director. He was naturally a success, commanding but fair. He
even spearheaded some new initiatives in opera design, one being a way to simulate rainfall
onstage. He remained in this important position until the succession of Ferdinand by Charles III,
which eventually marked the end of Farinelli's political career. There seemed to be no bad blood
between the two, but perhaps simply a political move on the part of the new King (Heriot 1975).
He then returned to Italy to retire in the city of Bologna. He lived his last years quietly, no
longer singing but still playing the harpsichord and was frequently visited. One of his many
visitors was none other than Mozart himself, astonishing the singer and his close friend Padre
Martini, who was currently writing his History ofMusic, with his skill in extempore fugue
(Holmes 1979).
Farinelli's over sixty year correspondence with his "dear twin" continued unabated until
Metastasio's death in 1782. Ironically, Farinelli himself died rather suddenly, later that same
year. His tomb is unfortunately no longer in existence, due to the Napoleon invasion of Italy, but
his villa in Bologna survives to this day. Carlo Broschi was the ultimate example of the
incredible lives that some castrati led because of their unique talent. Although not all of49
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Sowle, Jennifer. The Castrato Sacrifice: Was it Justified?, thesis, August 2006; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5343/m1/52/: accessed May 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .