These Influential Figures in History Were Actually Eunuchs

These Influential Figures in History Were Actually Eunuchs

Shannon Quinn - December 26, 2018

These Influential Figures in History Were Actually Eunuchs
Scarlo Scalzi posing in one of his elaborate opera costumes. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

2. Carlo Scalzi Sang Songs For Royalty

The famous opera singer Carlo Scalzi was castrated before puberty so that he could hit high notes when he sang. He was called a “very unique singer” in his style, and people often compared him to yet another eunuch singer we already mentioned on this list, Farinelli. Carlo Scalzi traveled all around Europe in the early 1700’s playing leading roles in operas, and he would give private performances to members of the royal family. He even sang for the wedding of Philip IV, Prince of Orange.

One of his most iconic roles was in the original cast of George Frideric Handel’s opera called” Arianna in Creta”. He played a character named Alceste, who is one of the main male love interests in the story. The opening show was performed in the King’s Theater in London, and it became such a famous opera, it it still performed to this day. He stopped performing in his late 30’s, and records of his life stop after that point. It’s always possible that he retired after aging out of the roles he was getting for leading man.

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