castrato
/kæˈstrɑːtoʊ/
noun
- A male singer who was castrated before puberty to preserve a high soprano or alto voice, especially popular in 17th- and 18th-century opera.
- The famous castrato Farinelli was one of the most celebrated singers of the Baroque era.
- Castrati were trained for years to develop their powerful and flexible voices.
- Modern audiences can hear recordings of castrato Alessandro Moreschi, the last known castrato.