The main character in Orfeo (Orpheus) was a castrato. Look up what a "castrato" is online and then answer this question - it may shock you! Choose the best answer choice, and explain.
A woman posing as a man to sing high notes
A person with a high voice singing offstage while the performer on stage lip sincs
A man who sings in a falsetto voice
A man who voluntarily was castrated before puberty to keep his voice high
The best answer choice is: A man who voluntarily was castrated before puberty to keep his voice high.
Castrati were men who were castrated before reaching puberty in order to prevent their voices from deepening as they grew. This extreme practice was common in the baroque era, particularly in Italy, where female roles in operas were forbidden to be sung by women. Castrati were able to sing in a high pitch, similar to a woman's soprano or mezzo-soprano range, but they retained the power and resonance of a man's voice. This practice is no longer done today and is seen as highly unethical.