sweetnpetite
Intellectual snob
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2003
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Farinelli was the most famous singer of his century and he is arguably one of the greatest singers of all time. His reputation and fame has lasted despite the disappearance of castrato singers and the unique musical style dedicated to them known as "opera seria."
Farinelli enjoyed a quasi-mythical status, even in his own life-time. The main reason for this was his exceptional voice, although his androgynous beauty clearly contributed. Farinelli was a highly skilled performer, much praised for the beauty of his sound, the breadth of his range, the purity of his intonation and his breath control and agility. It has been recorded that the range of his voice covered more than three and a half octaves. Some accounts of his life state that he could produce 250 notes in a single breath and sustain a note for more than a minute.
"Farinelli," says Charles Burney, the leading music historian of the period, "could hold his notes for such a long time that those who heard him believed that it was impossible to do so naturally. They believed he hid a special instrument which maintained the sound of his voice whilst he took another breath."
Despite his unusual gifts, Farinelli decided early on in his career to try and steer clear of compositions which merely enabled him to show off the range of his voice. He preferred pieces which were more restrained and purer.
Farinelli's particular destiny also became part of his legend: a huge star (as were other castrato singers such as Caffarelli or Senesino), Farinelli, at the age of only thirty two, chose to retire from the limelight at the height of his success so he could sing exclusively for King Philip V of Spain who was known to have been severely depressed for many years.
According to Charles Burney: "Upon the arrival of Farinelli ... Queen Isabella contrived that there should be a concert in a room adjoining the King's apartments, in which this singer performed one of his most captivating songs. Philip appeared at first surprised, then moved: and at the end of the second air, made the virtuoso enter the royal apartment, loading him with compliments and caresses. He asked him how he could sufficiently reward such talents and assured him that he would refuse him nothing. Farinelli, previously instructed, begged that His Majesty would permit his attendants to shave and dress him, and asked that he would endeavor to appear in council as usual. From then on the king's disease was treated medically, and the singer was considered responsible for curing him."
Thus began Farinelli's remarkable Spanish career, spanning more than two decades in the service of Philip V (1700-46) and Ferdinand VI (1746-59).
The fact that Farinelli retired from public performance early in his career was unquestionably significant since Farinelli remained a success in the public imagination whilst many other castrato singers fell from their pedestals while still in the public eye. Furthermore, it is said that in addition to his talent, physical beauty and wisdom, Farinelli possessed great humility.
For all the above qualities he was frequently referred to as "the Divine Farinelli."
http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/farinelli/about/ffarinelli.html
Farinelli enjoyed a quasi-mythical status, even in his own life-time. The main reason for this was his exceptional voice, although his androgynous beauty clearly contributed. Farinelli was a highly skilled performer, much praised for the beauty of his sound, the breadth of his range, the purity of his intonation and his breath control and agility. It has been recorded that the range of his voice covered more than three and a half octaves. Some accounts of his life state that he could produce 250 notes in a single breath and sustain a note for more than a minute.
"Farinelli," says Charles Burney, the leading music historian of the period, "could hold his notes for such a long time that those who heard him believed that it was impossible to do so naturally. They believed he hid a special instrument which maintained the sound of his voice whilst he took another breath."
Despite his unusual gifts, Farinelli decided early on in his career to try and steer clear of compositions which merely enabled him to show off the range of his voice. He preferred pieces which were more restrained and purer.
Farinelli's particular destiny also became part of his legend: a huge star (as were other castrato singers such as Caffarelli or Senesino), Farinelli, at the age of only thirty two, chose to retire from the limelight at the height of his success so he could sing exclusively for King Philip V of Spain who was known to have been severely depressed for many years.
According to Charles Burney: "Upon the arrival of Farinelli ... Queen Isabella contrived that there should be a concert in a room adjoining the King's apartments, in which this singer performed one of his most captivating songs. Philip appeared at first surprised, then moved: and at the end of the second air, made the virtuoso enter the royal apartment, loading him with compliments and caresses. He asked him how he could sufficiently reward such talents and assured him that he would refuse him nothing. Farinelli, previously instructed, begged that His Majesty would permit his attendants to shave and dress him, and asked that he would endeavor to appear in council as usual. From then on the king's disease was treated medically, and the singer was considered responsible for curing him."
Thus began Farinelli's remarkable Spanish career, spanning more than two decades in the service of Philip V (1700-46) and Ferdinand VI (1746-59).
The fact that Farinelli retired from public performance early in his career was unquestionably significant since Farinelli remained a success in the public imagination whilst many other castrato singers fell from their pedestals while still in the public eye. Furthermore, it is said that in addition to his talent, physical beauty and wisdom, Farinelli possessed great humility.
For all the above qualities he was frequently referred to as "the Divine Farinelli."
http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/farinelli/about/ffarinelli.html
