The Castrato Sacrifice: Was it Justified? Page: 50
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Farinelli's accomplishments were musically inclined, the doors to his success were opened
foremost because of his incredible voice.
The bewitching voice of the castrato singer created many opportunities for these singers,
in addition to the glamour of the opera stage. Some castrati became world travelers, summoned
all over Europe to sing for great kings and rulers. Filippo Balatri of Tuscany was one castrato
whose voice transported him to many exotic places, not just in central Europe. Balatri is the
author of the only known castrato autobiography. He tells his life story with a biting wit and
rather droll attitude. It is written in verse with rhyming stanzas composed in four line sections.
The account is a wonderful insight into his psyche, and begins with simply "I was born." As to
the details of his birth and early life, including his training, he is unfortunately rather vague.
Many castrati seemed to have a sense of shame about their beginnings, perhaps because of the
delicate subject of their operation. Although Balatri boldly mentions and even names the doctor
who performed his, one Accoramboni of Lucca. Balatri sarcastically "thanks" him near the end
of his saga, as he details the manner in which he wished to be buried.
He addresses his work simply to il Mondo... the world. Unlike many of his
contemporaries, he did not begin his career in Rome or Naples. In fact, Balatri was spirited away
to Moscow when he was hardly fifteen years old. His "natural Sovreign" responsible for this
move was Cosimo III de'Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. He describes the situation:
Peter, the great Czar, who reigns over Scythia, is determined to fertilise Muscovy with
science and fine arts, and has sought out people who in such things are well instructed.
(Heriot 1975)
It may seem strange to modern thinkers that such a responsibility be placed on the shoulders of a
fifteen year old boy, but things were much different then. Children were not generally as
cosseted and coddled, and by fifteen a boy was already a man, and ready to embark on the world.50
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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/m1/53/: accessed May 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .