Musique de Cour

Giovanni Carestini - great singer-castrato, opera star of Handel’s era. Carestini was born in 1704, in Italy near Ancona. It is known, that he studied singing with the great castrato - Antonio Bernacchi. In 1721 Carestini had his debut in Rome, in Scarlatti’s opera La Griselda. Carestini had soprano voice, which was quite high with the range of two full music octaves. Giovanni Carestini started his collaboration with Maestro Handel in 1733. In fact, he replaced Senesino , who, by that moment, left Royal Academy. Carestini worked with Handel only two seasons, but how lush and colorful were the roles which Carestini sang during this short period: Ruggiero in Alcina and the title role in Ariodante. Carestini was successful, the public in London loved him, but after 2 seasons of collaboration with Handel, singer’s career began to decline. In spite of the fact, that in 1733 Giovanni Carestini was successful among London public, in 1740 (when he came back to England again), the sin...