The Castrati: The Dark Secret Behind Opera’s Most Extraordinary Voices

For centuries, Europe’s most celebrated opera singers had voices that sounded almost supernatural — powerful, soaring, and unlike anything audiences had ever heard before.They were known as the castrati.From the sacred choirs of the Vatican to the grand opera houses of Europe, these singers became some of the biggest celebrities of the 17th and 18th centuries. Kings invited them to royal courts. Fans travelled across countries just to hear them perform. Some became astonishingly wealthy and famous.But behind those extraordinary voices was a secret far darker than most audiences realised.In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon explores the strange and unsettling history of the castrati — how the practice began in Renaissance Italy, why thousands of boys were drawn into the system, and how a handful rose to become global superstars like Farinelli.You’ll also hear about the last surviving castrato, Alessandro Moreschi, whose early 1900s recordings remain the only surviving example of what these voices actually sounded like.It’s a story about music, fame, ambition… and the uncomfortable lengths societies will sometimes go to in pursuit of beauty.This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜Got an Idea for the Podcast?I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.EMAIL: [email protected]: @thestickybeakpodcastTIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcastFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.