cahn: (Default)
cahn ([personal profile] cahn) wrote2021-02-20 09:19 pm
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Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 24

Every post I can't believe this is still going on, and yet, here we are :D
selenak: (Vanessa Ives by Sakuraberries)

Re: Italian Affairs

[personal profile] selenak 2021-02-26 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
In the movie Farinelli (for which they tried to recreate the sound and range of a castrato voice by blending the voices of a soprano and a countertenor), Farinelli retiring to Spain is the happy ending, so there isn't much of that, but check out two great sequences which showcase the opulent late Baroque/Rococo staging habits beautifully: in the former, he sings an aria from an opera composed and conducted by his brother Riccardo (Farinelli's real name was Carlo Broschi), and in the second, the Lascia di Piange by Händel. The main relationship of the film is that between the brothers Broschi which is super angsty because Riccardo is the older and did help Dad to have Carlo castrated back in the day; he also subsequently dedicated his life to him, composing for him, managing him etc. Cue arrival of mind messing Händel who points out to Carlo, aka Farinelli, that he's the way better composer, and what's this about dedicated his life, isn't it more the case that Riccardo exploits Carlo, has done since their childhood and wouldn't get his mediocre compositions staged otherwise? Presto, conflict.