Editing Balls (section)

=== Castrati: The History ===

# '''The Practice''':
#* '''Castration Before Puberty''': Young boys, typically between the ages of 7 and 9, were castrated before their voices could deepen during puberty. This preserved their high, pre-pubescent vocal range, but also allowed them to grow taller and develop larger chests, which gave them powerful lung capacity.
#* '''Why Castration''': The hormonal changes that occur during puberty (especially the increase in testosterone) would typically lower the pitch of a male's voice, causing the vocal cords to thicken and shorten. By removing the testicles, the boys did not experience the surge of testosterone that would result in these changes.
# '''The Goal''':
#* The purpose was to create singers with '''exceptionally high voices''', but who could also sustain the strength and power of adult male voices. These castrated men were often able to sing '''incredibly high ranges''' (sometimes comparable to modern-day sopranos or mezzo-sopranos), but with a voice that had more resonance and power than a typical female singer.
#* Castrati could perform in opera, often taking on '''heroic or romantic roles''', as their voices combined the brilliance of soprano or alto parts with the power and range of male vocal cords.