Castrato

A castrato is a male soprano, mezzo-soprano, or alto voice produced by castration of the singer before puberty.

Famous castrati

The most celebrated of the castrati singers were (in chronological order):

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• Baldassare Ferri (1610–1680)
• Antonio Maria Bernacchi (1685–1756)
• Francesco Bernardi Senesino (c.1685–c.1759)
• Carlo Broschi Farinelli (1705–1782)
• Gaetano Majorano Caffarelli (1710–1783)
• Giovanni Manzuoli (1720–1782)
• Gaetano Guadagni (1725–1792)
• Gasparo Pacchierotti (1740–1821)
• Luigi Marchesi (1754–1829)
• Girolamo Crescentini (1762–1848)
• Giovanni Velluti (1781–1861)