Week 9: Evolution of the Countertenor
1. The pre-cursor to the countertenor originated in the baroque era. Choir boys with beautiful voices were operated upon to halt the maturation of their voices and create a unique sound. What were these men called? A: Castrati
Beginning in mid-16th century, the castrato voice was considered more desirable than those who used falsetto. They were also a requirement of the Catholic Church who places strict limits on where and when it was acceptable for women to sing (hint, almost nowhere and no time outside the private home!). While they began in the Catholic Church, castrati found stardom in opera, beginning with Monterverdi’s L’Orfeo and The Coronation of Poppea. Castrati were the superstars of their day and highly prized as lovers by their admirers. The true superstars were know by performing nicknames, one of the most famous was called Farinelli, but his real names was Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi. A 1994 movie dramatizes his life and supposed feud with the composer George Friedric Handel. Farinelli's singing voice was provided by the Polish soprano Ewa Malas-Godlewska and a countertenor, Derek Lee Ragin, who were recorded separately and then digitally merged to try to recreate the unique sound of a castrato.[
What is a Countertenor?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQjg50s2zPE
Farinelli Il Castrato (1994) - Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Soundtrack https://youtu.be/AifjiYzoQW0
2. This countertenor was known as the “Last Castrato” and the only one to have been recorded. Who is he? A: Alessandro Moreschi
Alessandro was born in Italy in 1858, and while he began his training in the Sistine Chapel choir, it is unknown the reason for his castration. Regardless, his solo recordings are the only recordings of a castrato. Yet, be aware that these recordings took place in his late 40s, which some argue is past his prime.
Moreschi sings Ave Maria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjvfqnD0ws
3. “I know a bank” is a famous countertenor aria of modern age from which of Britten’s opera? Extra points if you know the character. A: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon
While a lot of countertenor repertoire is of the baroque era, Handel, Vivaldi, etc. this opera returned the lead role to a countertenor, Oberon. The role was created for Alfred Deller, and although the range is on the low side of a countertenor it still is a relative rarity to see countertenors on stages.
JungKwon Jang since Benjamin Britten - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Oberon's Aria “I know a bank”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyH-Is7zKpI
Alfred Deller - Music for a while - Purcell https://youtu.be/trOXaDeFeD4
4. Countertenor John Holiday, who was just a guest at our Virtual Opera Chat, had his 2013 debut with Cincinnati Opera in which Phillip Glass opera? A: Galileo Galilei
A CCM alum, John Holiday played 1st Oracle and 1st Cardinal in Galileo Galilei following the premiere with Portland Opera. He is also on the first professional recording of this opera produced following that Portland Opera performance. Holiday was a Santa Fe Opera apprentice singer in 2011, and since then has been on stages across the nation. His portrayal of John Blue in Opera Philadelphia’s We Shall Not Be Moved was just featured in our Virtual Opera Chats. You can see him perform in this opera as part of Opera Philadelphia’s Digital O Festival until August 31 by visiting https://www.operaphila.org/festival/digital-festival/ .
Behind the scenes of Cincinnati Opera's GALILEO GALILEI https://youtu.be/DdrK40N0jNQ https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Galileo-Galilei-Portland-Opera/dp/B00GB8YGVY
John Holiday sings Summertime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Rz4t4Al48
John Holiday sings Vivaldi - 'Ah, ch'infelice!' | John Holiday, Academy of Ancient Music https://youtu.be/O6MJJrJap8w
5. One of the most famous countertenors of our day is Anthony Roth Costanzo. Can you name the 2018 production Cincinnati Opera production he starred in? A: The Coronation of Poppea
Anthony Roth Costanzo has been performing professionally since the age of 11 performing on Broadway and in touring productions like The Sound of Music and Falsettos. He began his opera career as a teenager in a production of The Turn of the Screw, and has never looked back. Anthony not only excels at the traditional, florid music of the baroque era but is also a proponent of new works having debuted a number of them. He has recently recorded an album that juxtaposes works by Handel and Philip Glass. You may also have seen him performing the title role in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten on the Met Live in HD series.
Anthony Roth Costanzo: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert https://youtu.be/ZLqXimltxsg
Anthony Roth Costanzo Sings "Hymn to the Sun" | Akhnaten | Great Performances at the Met https://youtu.be/7dncklUDQ3U