Are counter tenors really castrated?

Question

Is this for real? chemically induced castration in the name of Art?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farinelli_%...

Vitas the new Russian sensation check his You Tube out,

so amazing..

Answer 2

Countertenor is also known as a male alto voice. It is possible

only (for males) in the upper part of the voice, generally starting where the more natural tones leave off. This peculiar

type of tone is called "Falsetto".

During the 17th and 18th centuries adult male vocalists with soprano or contralto voices were highly popular; these had been subjectedd before puberty to a surgical operation,

so as to left them,physiologically (in a cetain sense) permanently boys.

Names applied to such singers have been:

Sopranists or Contraltists (as the case may be) Castrati

(sing "Castrato"), Evirati (sing "Evirato") and Musici (sing Musici).

Now a days there may be a few male singers with "natural"

Alto voices but to my knowledge none will be in the "castrati"

classification.

Enjoy your Music

Answer 3

Some bargain countertenors might be lacki... oh, nevermind.

Fully functioning males with a wonderfully high range. Been there, done that!

Answer 4

oh my God wtf? is this what goes down in the underground of opera singing??!! wtf!

Answer 5

NO!!!!!!  The last of the castrati sopranos and altos died in the Twenties of Thirties.  Counter-tenors are normal, intact male singers who can sing well in FALSETTO.

Answer 6

Come on! And altos take testosterone to excel in the low register.

Absolutely not!