Caffarelli (castrato)
The castrato whose volcanic voice and notorious arrogance made him one of the 18th century's most sensational and controversial opera stars.
1710–1783 (age 73)·Italian castrato·Birthday: April 12
Biography
Born Gaetano Majorano, the singer who took the stage name Caffarelli possessed a voice of such power, agility, and exquisite tone that he commanded Europe's greatest opera houses for three decades. A student of the exacting teacher Nicola Porpora, he honed a technique that allowed him to execute dazzling coloratura with seeming ease. His fame, however, was matched by a temperamental and prideful personality; stories of his on-stage improvisations to show off, his feuds with composers, and his scandalous behavior offstage were legion. He amassed a vast fortune, bought a dukedom, and retired to a life of aristocratic luxury, a stark contrast to the often-tragic origins of castrati. Caffarelli's career embodies the peak of the castrato's cultural power—a blend of sublime artistic achievement and outsized, volatile celebrity.
#1 When Caffarelli Was Born
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Caffarelli's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1710Born
1715Started school
1723Became a teenager
1726Could drive
1728Could vote
1731Turned 21
1740Turned 30
1750Turned 40
1760Turned 50
1770Turned 60
1780Turned 70
1783Died at 73
Key Achievements
- Was one of the highest-paid opera singers of his era, commanding fees that allowed him to purchase a dukedom in later life.
- Created leading roles in operas by major composers including Handel, Hasse, and Pergolesi.
- Maintained a premier career in Italy's major opera houses and abroad for over 30 years, an exceptional span for a vocalist.
- His interpretation of the aria 'Son qual nave' was so famous it became a benchmark for future castrati and sopranos.
- Successfully transitioned from *opera seria* heroes to more nuanced, comic roles as his voice matured.
Did You Know?
His teacher, Porpora, is said to have made him study a single sheet of vocal exercises for six years before moving on.
King Louis XV of France granted him a diamond-encrusted snuff box and a portrait of the king set in diamonds.
He was once arrested in Lisbon for allegedly stabbing a man who hissed during his performance.
After retiring, he built a lavish palace in Calabria, which locals called 'Palazzo Caffarelli'.
A famous anecdote claims a critic told him his singing was 'divine,' to which Caffarelli replied, 'You are mistaken, it is only Caffarelli.'
“Let the other singers tremble; I am Caffarelli!”
