The Passion of Opera

Echo: Castrato Virtuosity Recaptured Silviu Purcarete’s 2012 Production of Leonardo Vinci’s  Artaserse              Every opera  performance occurs in a unique historical and cultural context. Despite this, it is possible for a performance to honor the spirit of the work’s era while effectively imparting that spirit to an audience of a different time. [1] Leonardo Vinci’s Artaserse , a setting of Pietro Metastasio’s popular libretto, however, offers particular challenges for modern audiences. A dramma per musica , its musical conventions and betrayal plot were designed to highlight the effusive virtuosity of the five castrati (and one tenor), playing both male and female characters, in the cast of the 1730 premiere. [2] Despite their high vocal range and emasculate characteristics, castrati were perceived more as otherworldly or inhuman than effeminate due to their enormous proportions and mastery of singing th...