Alessandro Moreschi

Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) was an Italian castrato singer. He was the last castrato to sing in the Sistine Chapel choir and the only one to make solo recordings (1903-1905).

Castrato singers were castrated before puberty to inhibit larynx development and preserve a higher vocal pitch (i.e. equivalent of the soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto ranges). Fortunately, the practice was prohibited by 1870.