Castrato

Topic

A castrato is a male classical singer who underwent castration before puberty in order to prevent the larynx from transforming, thereby retaining a high vocal range equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto. This practice, which peaked in popularity during the 17th and 18th centuries in European opera and church music, combined the high register of a female voice with the lung capacity and physical power of an adult male.