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Lucie Skeaping on the life and career of the famous 18th-century castrato Caffarelli, for whom many composers created roles, including Handel, Porpora and Hasse.

The 18th-century singer Caffarelli expressed a wish to be castrated when he was just ten years old - already wanting a career in music. He flourished into one of Europe's finest singers, and enjoyed great fame - and notoriety - for almost forty years, amassing a great fortune along the way.

Many composers of the day created roles for him in their productions, including Handel, Porpora, Hasse, Pergolesi and Gluck.

Lucie Skeaping explores Caffarelli's extraordinary life and career with music from recordings by Franco Fagioli, Max Emmanuel Cencic, Andreas Scholl and Simone Kermes, among others.

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19 minutes

Last on

Sun 5 Feb 2023 14:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Serse: Overture

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.
    • VIRGIN VERITAS.

  • Nicola Porpora

    La Semiramide riconosciuta: Passagier che sulla sponda

    Singer: Franco Fagioli. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Director: Riccardo Minasi.
    • NAIVE.

  • Domenico Natale Sarro

    Il Valdemaro: Un cor ben ama

    Singer: Franco Fagioli. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Director: Riccardo Minasi.
    • NAIVE.

  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Cajo Fabricio: Se tu non senti

    Singer: Simone Kermes. Ensemble: Amici Veneziani.
    • Sony.

  • Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

    Adriano in Siria: Lieto cosi talvolta

    Singer: Franco Fagioli. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.
    • Decca.

  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Antigono: Non partir bell'idol mio

    Singer: Lea Desandre. Ensemble: Opera Fuoco. Conductor: David Stern.
    • APARTE.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Faramondo: Poi che pria de morire

    Singer: Max Emanuel CenčiΔ‡. Ensemble: I Barocchisti. Conductor: Diego Fasolis.
    • ERATO.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Serse - Ombra mai fu

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Siroe, re di Persia: Fra l'orror della tempesta

    Singer: Franco Fagioli. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Director: Riccardo Minasi.
    • NAIVE.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Germanico in Germania: Empi, se mai disciolgo

    Singer: Mary-Ellen Nesi. Ensemble: Capella Cracoviensis. Conductor: Jan Tomasz Adamus.
    • Decca.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 6 Sep 2020 14:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 5 Feb 2023 14:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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