Giovanni Cesari
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Cesari was an Italian
singer with a soprano acuto, or high soprano
voice.
Together with Alessandro Moreschi
, Domenico Salvatori
and Domenico Mustafà
, Cesari was a famous castrato
singer of the late 19th century. Born in the town of Frosinone
, he was dropped off at an orphanage in 1852 by his parents. Here he started his musical education under the direction of Gaetano Capocci
, financed by the Sistine Chapel
. He was then admitted, upon completing his studies, as a soprano to the Cappella Sistina at the age of 17 in 1861. Cesari was overall a remarkable soprano, and although he possessed a veiled voice, he was a master of song with an optimal intonation and an exquisite trill.
In addition to being a soprano at the Cappella Sistina, he was also director of sacred music at several churches of Rome (Santa Lucia al Gonfalone, Santo Spirito in Sassia
, etc.), and he used to arrange concerts in Rome. In 1896 he was promoted to vice-director of the Cappella, sometimes substituting for the older maestro Domenico Mustafa
. He died prematurely in Rome in 1904.
His voice can be heard, rather faintly, together with those of the other choristers on the Sistine Chapel recordings made by Fred Gaisberg
in 1902.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
singer with a soprano acuto, or high soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
voice.
Together with Alessandro Moreschi
Alessandro Moreschi
Alessandro Moreschi was the most famous castrato singer of the late 19th century, and the only castrato of the classic bel canto tradition to make solo sound recordings.-Life:...
, Domenico Salvatori
Domenico Salvatori
Domenico Salvatori along with Alessandro Moreschi, Domenico Mustafà and Giovanni Cesari, was one of the famous castrati singers of the late 19th century....
and Domenico Mustafà
Domenico Mustafa
Domenico Mustafà was an Italian castrato singer, composer and choir director. He was born in the comune of Sellano, province of Perugia....
, Cesari was a famous castrato
Castrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
singer of the late 19th century. Born in the town of Frosinone
Frosinone
Frosinone is a town and comune in Lazio, central Italy, the administrative seat of the Province of Frosinone. It is located about 75 km south-east of Rome close to the Rome-Naples Autostrada A1...
, he was dropped off at an orphanage in 1852 by his parents. Here he started his musical education under the direction of Gaetano Capocci
Gaetano Capocci
Gaetano Capocci was a composer, organist and maestro.Capocci was born in Rome. As a boy he studied the organ under Sante Pascoli, organist of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, and he completed his musical studies under Valentino Fioravanti and Francesco Cianciarelli...
, financed by the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
. He was then admitted, upon completing his studies, as a soprano to the Cappella Sistina at the age of 17 in 1861. Cesari was overall a remarkable soprano, and although he possessed a veiled voice, he was a master of song with an optimal intonation and an exquisite trill.
In addition to being a soprano at the Cappella Sistina, he was also director of sacred music at several churches of Rome (Santa Lucia al Gonfalone, Santo Spirito in Sassia
Santo Spirito in Sassia
Santo Spirito in Sassia is a 12th century basilica church in Rome.It has been erected in Borgo Santo Spirito, a street which got its name from the church, placed in the southern part of Rione Borgo....
, etc.), and he used to arrange concerts in Rome. In 1896 he was promoted to vice-director of the Cappella, sometimes substituting for the older maestro Domenico Mustafa
Domenico Mustafa
Domenico Mustafà was an Italian castrato singer, composer and choir director. He was born in the comune of Sellano, province of Perugia....
. He died prematurely in Rome in 1904.
His voice can be heard, rather faintly, together with those of the other choristers on the Sistine Chapel recordings made by Fred Gaisberg
Fred Gaisberg
Frederick William Gaisberg was an American-born musician, recording engineer and one of the earliest classical music producers for the gramophone. He himself did not use the term 'producer' and was not an impresario like his protégé Walter Legge of EMI or an innovator like John Culshaw of Decca...
in 1902.