Steven Schwartz ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>Ron Chaplin:
>
>>I was wondering what the artistic purpose was for countertenors.
>
>Perhaps.  I do know that the voice was prized mainly for its agility.

These parts weren't written for countertenors they were written for
castrati.

Agility and perhaps above all power were the keynotes of the castrato
voice.

Deryk Barker
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