Ever since the movie, "Farinelli: Il Castrato"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farinelli_(film) I have been intrigued with the
castrato (Italian, plural:
castrati - a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty, or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrato. As a
castrato is no longer heard today, as it was made illegal in 1870 in Italy, countertenors (a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano or (less frequently) a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely the normal or modal voice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countertenor) are used today to replace the
castrati roles of baroque opera. A specific kind of countertenor, is the male soprano - a male singer who is able to sing in the vocal tessitura of a soprano usually through the use of falsetto vocal production.
Philippe Jaroussky is a male soprano
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Jaroussky
In Philippe's discography, you do find cantatas and operas, but then he has recorded a jewel, Opium: Mélodies françaises -
http://www.jarousskyopium.com/ A very interesting preview/description of the CD by Philippe can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEFjCFuDdAo and it will give you a taste of what you can expect.
Philippe's phrasings are sensitive and so musical. The ensemble work is remarkable and the communication between the musicians are evident in the music. Philippe Jaroussky colours the music with tone colours through his voice.
Be on the lookout for his other recordings, his voice is truely an instrument you don't want to ever miss!!
