Monsters and Prodigies: The History of the Castrati

By Alexander Hough in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 17, 2009 6:40PM

Is there anything more beautiful than the cherubic voice of a singing child? Well, folks in the 18th century didn't think so. That's why they lopped off the testicles of prepubescent boys, halting their vocal development, as well as altering bone growth, which enlarged the rib cage and increased lung capacity. The result was a powerful and permanent child-like voice, perfect for Baroque opera. And you thought kiddie beauty pageants were bad.

The castrati take center stage once again this weekend as Mexico's Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes presents "Monsters and Prodigies: The History of the Castrati" at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 90-minute opera/play, performed in Spanish with English supertitles, details the insane period of time in which this type of performance star was popular.

But don't expect a somber, anti-castration message play; after all, opera and most pop music have embraced the value of reproductive organs by now. "Monsters and Prodigies" is more of a send-up of the culture at the time, with characters descending into ridiculousness while time-traveling through three centuries. You may perhaps choose to evaluate whether the 20th century's austere modernity is an improvement on the Baroque obsession with beauty, but you can also just check it out for the off-the-wall humor. A deep and abiding love of opera isn't necessary.

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 for MCA members, and $10 for students (Friday night's performance only has student tickets remaining).

Remember to hold on to your ticket stub! It'll get you free admission to the MCA within a week of the performance.

And if you just can't get enough castrati, the MCA is offering two free related round-table talks:

• Tonight at 6:00 p.m., there's "The Age of the Castrati: Music, Myths, and Medicine," a discussion about the history of the castrati with Teatro member Javier Medina and Roosevelt University's David Schrader, among others.
• Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Teatro Artistic Director Claudio Valdés Kuri and Chicago Opera Theater General Director Brian Dickie will discuss the Baroque's influence on today's opera and experimental theater in a talk entitled "The Baroque is Now." RSVP is required for this one.

MCA, 220 E. Chicago, March 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., March 22 at 3:00 p.m.. $25, $20 MCA members, $10 students; "The Age of the Castrati: Music, Myths, and Medicine" round-table, tonight at 6:00 p.m., free; "The Baroque is Now" round-table, March 21 at 2:00 p.m., free, RSVP required