Carlo Broschi (aka Farinelli, 1705-1782) and the Castrati
Submitted by Alan Rogol
Castrations were performed on prepubertal boys to preserve the unbroken male voice through adulthood. The young castrate (musico) undertook intensive voice training under a music master. After multiple years the late teenager would have the chest of a man, but the vocal cords of a woman. Farinelli, the most famous singer (castrato) of his time with a voice of uncommon power, sweetness, extent and agility [J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2000;13(6 suppl):1503]. His skeletal remains were studied after exhumation in 2006. The consequences of virtually lifelong testosterone deprivation were virtually the same as noted for Gaspare Pacchiereotti (Fabriano, 1740 –1821, Padua): tall stature, persistence of less than fully fused epiphyseal lines, and severe osteoporosis with crush fractures of the spine.