Alessandro Moreschi Sings Tosti's "Ideale" 1902

Alessandro Moreschi was born in 1858, so he would have been 44 years old when this recording was made. It is a recording of historical interest only, and has value simply because Moreschi was one of the last of the castrati, and the only one to make sound recordings. There were probably others still around at that time, about whom nothing is known. Artistically and musically, it isn't very good. The interest lies in the sound of the voice, which is a subjective judgment. I have always been of the opinion that modern male sopranos and altos are likely to be superior to the castrati of former centuries, essentially because of the great advances in vocal technique. To my ears, he sounds, at 44, like a boy soprano, still struggling with his technique. There is some applause at the end, so I assume this recording was made with some admirers present.