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    The rise of the castrato

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    The story of Baroque opera from 1600

    Farinelli castrato

    9. The rise of the castrato

    By the 1670s, opera’s popularity had spread all over Italy, and with it, the rise of the diva. The public favoured longer songs and preferred listening to upper voices, particularly the male castrato singers.

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    See the full gallery: The story of Baroque opera from 1600

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