(Rare!) Alessandro Moreschi (The Last Castrato) (1904)

Here comes another interesting Historical treasure from the turn of the 20th century. The Last Castrato, Alessandro Moreschi, (1858.11.11 - 1922.4.21) and his fellow members of Sistine Choir of Vatican, sings Emilio Calzanera's Oremus Pro Pontefice (Let Us Pray for the Pontiff) for G&T in 1904.

This is a Victor repressing, made from the duplicate master, from early 1920s. I never heard the transfer of this recording, but I think my sound quality is not bad compared to any transfers.

Played on my Numark machine at speed 74. Since there is no comparison for Moreschi's voice, the pitching wasn't easy, so I just adjusted to the recording at the speed of Modern performance of this piece.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alessandro
• Moreschi
• The
• Last
• Castrato
• Sistine
• Choir
• Vatican
• Oremus
• Pro
• Pontefice
• 1904
• 78rpm
• Historical
• Rare

[Juliet0307]

How marvelous!The choir,and the extraordinary voice of Professore Moreschi,with his unique graves,so touching!And the crescendo on his last note is unforgettable.

[Charlote61]

Good castrati were the rock stars of their time. They did not sound like this man according to historical accounts and most were forced to be castrated by the church, or their families. it was not their choice. And if you read accounts of Farinelli, the most famous castrato to have ever lived, he not only possessed the most beautiful voice ever heard, he also possessed physical beauty.

[jr1844]

Well, it could be the primitive recording tech, but he sounds like he's being tortured. This is nothing like gorgeous sounds usually attributed to the castrati. Oy vey!

[EmmetEarwax]

Hogarth gave the business to a famed castrato of his time, Senesino. He portrayed people dumping money on the stage as he sang !

[EmmetEarwax]

It's a shame that harem guards and male singers were castrated . Why not use women ?

Castration in childhood causes ,besides the voice to stay high, the bones to grow longer. so castratoes were generally taller than average.

[Ettoredipugnar]

@Spelvin1964 well I would call it half assed folk music,that has developed into bad Andrew Loyd Weber. In all honesty are guitars still relevent. ?

[roselandalvin]

a wonderfully horrible performance by an old man who so sorely misses his beloved testicles

[Nastrofereth]

If I'm not wrong, the sopranos in this choir should be the last of the castrati-singers of the sistine chapel. Domenico Salvatori, Giovanni Cesari and Domenico Mustafa..

[stigler30]

@mmedefarge Very much so.

[Ettoredipugnar]

@jradetzky La musica  di Cello. Stolto protestento.

[Ettoredipugnar]

 The red labels are from 1902