Carlo Broschi

Carlo Broschi (stage name “Farinelli”) was an Italian castrato singer of extraordinary renown, born 24 January 1705 in Andria (Kingdom of Naples) and died 17 September 1782 in Bologna. He possessed a vocal range of approximately three and a half octaves, enabling him to sing both soprano and alto roles with unparalleled agility and expressive nuance. Trained by Nicola Porpora, he became one of the most celebrated opera stars of the 18th century, performing in major European capitals and holding an exclusive position at the Spanish court for over two decades. His virtuosity, dramatic sensitivity and instrument‑like voice influenced the evolution of vocal performance and opera seria.

Born into a court family, Farinelli moved to Naples in 1711, where he initially studied with his father before entering the Sant’Onofrio conservatory; he later refined his technique under Antonio Bernacchi in Bologna. He debuted in 1720 in Porpora’s “Angelica e Medoro,” beginning a close lifelong friendship with the poet Metastasio, whose libretti he frequently performed. His early fame was cemented by triumphant performances at the Aliberti Theatre in Rome, followed by engagements throughout Italy, Vienna, Paris and a celebrated period in London from 1734 to 1737.

Invited to Spain in 1737 as the personal singer of King Philip V, Farinelli was entrusted exclusively with daily private performances for the monarch. Under Ferdinand VI, he became director of the royal theatres, was knighted in 1750 and oversaw 23 opera productions, including 17 on Metastasio’s libretti, while managing major musical projects at court. After being compelled to leave Spain in 1759, he returned to Bologna, where he had owned property since the 1730s, living as a respected patron of the arts.

In later life he developed Morgagni–Stewart–Morel syndrome, possibly linked to castration. His remains were relocated in 1810 to the Certosa cemetery after the destruction of his original resting place. Modern recognition includes the establishment of the Farinelli Research Center in Bologna in 1998 and the dedication of a city park near his former villa in 2002.

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