“Offence to the Eye”: Farinelli as an actor on Opera stage. Case from anthropology of theatre

Abstract

The article discusses an issue of the relationship between vocal scenic practice and theatrical art in Neapolitan opera. The issue in question was broadly discussed in the theory of vocal performance of those days (e.g. by Pier Francesco Tosi). A particular example of my analysis of this phenomenon will be a figure of the excellent castrato, Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli. This perfect singer, the world-famous performer of the Neapolitan opera was criticized and even mocked because of his poor acting. This text contains an analysis of this historical topic on the example of selected sources: diaries, handbooks, sketches, paintings, press news, and others. The aforementioned sources give us a picturesque description of Farinelli, which was not only a singer and musical performer, but also a personage of the stage. They also reveal the imperfections of this excellent artist, exposing his not-so-much-statuesque image. The analysis contained in the article is an attempt to capture the overall phenomenon of Farinelli, aspiring to be the greatest opera serial' hero of his time.