Prom 47- anyone hazard a guess as to whether falsetto or the 'real thing' (ouch!)?

[pugsandseals]

A bit late I know but only just started to watch in on playback & I missed the interval chat.
Just wondered if anyone had heard anything about Mr Falsetto/Castrato- sounded very 'real thing' but not sure if anyone still goes through all that nonsense anymore?

[pugsandseals]

Thanks! It just sounded so real, much better than my music teacher from years ago who sung for Cambridge in his formative years (nothing against him, he was lovely!)

[EccentricaUsesTheDMForBogRoll]

don't know. good though.

[Teladi]

It was falsetto, although I didn't catch the prom, I know who was appearing. There's an article about the singer here. I'm always impressed when I hear professional countertenors! There haven't been any castrati for some years now, (thank goodness) the trend died out in the eighteenth century I believe although I think there were still one or two around into the nineteenth century. I could be wrong on those exact dates, but I remember reading about the history of it.

[pugsandseals]

Many thanks for the link! Very useful

[JeffVadar]

The counter tenor is a strange and wonderful voice! There is also a male soprano voice here

There is a recording of the last real castrato here