Altus: From Castrato to Countertenor

The male voice hits an all-time high with this new collection from Virgin Classics. Starting as far back as 1902 with the last of the castrati, Alessandro Moreschi, it comes right up to the present with superstar countertenors Philippe Jaroussky, David Daniels, and more! These 3 CDs feature a roll-call of virtually all the leading countertenors of recent history, hailing from continental Europe, the UK, and the US. Each has his own special vocal color and style, from the very British restraint of Alfred Deller, probably the first great countertenor of the modern era, to the lushness of the American Daniels, the elegance of the Frenchman Jaroussky, the fire of the middle-European Cencic, and the clarity of the German Scholl. The bonus track is the “Crucifixus” from Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, recorded in the Sistine Chapel, Rome by actual castrato Alessandro Moreschi. Dating from 1902, this is the only known audio recording of a genuine castrato, and it makes for a fascinating aural contrast heard next to the countertenors of today.