Book examines the connection between auteur Federico Fellini and the last castrato
“Castrato Phantoms” explores the artistic legacy of a cruel historic practice that saw young boys mutilated in order to create distinctive singing voices in later life
A new book, Castrato Phantoms: Moreschi, Fellini, and the Sacred Vernacular in Rome, delves into the connection between legendary singer Alessandro Moreschi and filmmaker Federico Fellini. Moreschi, known as the "last" castrato, passed away in 1922, while Fellini was born in 1920. The book reveals how Moreschi's granddaughter, Alessandra, married Fellini's brother Riccardo, linking the two artists through blood.
Musicologist Martha Feldman, who authored the book, explains that this familial bond sheds light on Fellini's films and Italian masculinity of the 20th century. The castrato's distinctive voice, like that of Moreschi, was a result of a unique vocalization process, often leading to premature deaths due to the procedure. Feldman's analysis uncovers the paradoxical nature of castrati, who were both revered as artistic figures and scrutinized scientifically.
Fellini's films, such as I Vitelloni (1953) and Fellini Satyricon (1969), echo this duality through their use of singing voices and characters who defy gender norms. Additionally, the book highlights how castrati were later excluded from historical memory during Italy's Fascist era, paving the way for Fellini and Pietro Germi's films to reclaim their legacy.
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