The Castrato Sacrifice: Was it Justified? Page: 54
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remaining in Italy and touring Padua, Venice, and Verona. But he could not stay away from
Germany, and returned there to serve under Johann Theodor, Bishop of Ratisbon. At this point
of his life he closes his autobiography, as things for him finally became peaceful. The records of
the monastery communicate what became of Balatri in his final years. It tells the circumstances
of his first mass, led by "His Highness Johann Theodor, Bishop of Freising and Ratisbon"
himself. Apparently Balatri had befriended him, and confided his secret desire to "renounce the
world and serve God alone." In response, took the dedicated singer into his cloister to serve and
to direct the sacred music. Balatri took the name Theodore in appreciation of the Bishop's
support and friendship. There he remained until he died in 1756 (Heriot 1975).
Although he did indeed become a monk, Balatri's singular wit and jovial attitude towards
his very existence remained. Even his will was a piquant piece of writing. Addressed to a
friend, he begins with:
You have found the buffoon in all my writings; but you know that the reason was because
I could not do otherwise. So, if you find the same in this, you will be all the more certain
it is mine. He who was born a fool will never be cured, says the proverb. (Heriot 1975)
He continues to the body of the will, outlining the specifics of his estate with his characteristic
irreverence and parody. He goes on to describe why he never took a wife, which as quoted
earlier. He elaborates the situation by concocting an imaginary scenario on his deathbed, longing
for a last few moments of peace, but being robbed of it by a badgering wife who relentlessly
harasses him about the location of his will (Heriot 1975).
One thing in which Balatri was adamant is that his corpse was absolutely not to be
washed in the traditional fashion of the country. He did not want to be degraded and washed by:
certain women... not only for the indecency I see in it, but because I do not them to
amuse themselves by examining me, to see how sopranos are made. (Heriot 1975)54
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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/m1/57/: accessed May 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .