Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Creating a castrato; 2. The politics of patronage: 1638–53; 3. In pursuit of prestige: 1653–5; 4. The sexuality of the castrato; 5. Disgrace and transformation: 1656–71; 6. Atto Melani and the cantata; 7. Completing the portrait: 1671–1714; Appendices: A. The letters of Atto Melani; B. Letters addressed to or concerning Atto Melani; C. Satires: Sopra Atto Melani musico and Al Signor Atto Melani; D. Excerpt from the Receuil des défenses of Nicolas Fouquet; E. Biographical sketch from Tommaso Trenta's Memorie; F. The cantata texts of Atto Melani, with analyses and translations; G. The Wills: For Italy; For France; H. The cabinet in the 'Salotto dell'Abbate Melani', from the inventory of 1782.

Promotional Information

A fascinating insight into the life and music-making of the most documented musician of the seventeenth century, castrato Atto Melani.

About the Author

Roger Freitas is Associate Professor in the Department of Musicology, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester.

Reviews

'The book includes a survey of Atto's cantatas, polished, efficient exemplars of a fashionable new Italian genre, but in the end far less important to their creator than the wordly advancement their performances brought with it. Richly documented, this whole extraordinary chronicle of the eunuch as self-made man is one of the most absorbing studies in its field to have appeared in recent years.' The Times Literary Supplement