Heavenly Voices: The Legacy of Farinelli – A Fascinating Documentary on DVD

UPC: 807280168990

Product Features

• Title: Heavenly Voices: The Legacy of Farinelli
• Narrators: Max Emanuel Cencic, Philippe Jaroussky, Ernesto Tomasini, David Daniels, Andreas Scholl, Daniel Behle, and others
• Directors: Gino Pennacchi and Alessandro Scillitani
• Production Companies: TICO Film, in association with ERT and ORF
• Sound Format: PCM Stereo
• Subtitle Languages: Italian, English, German, French, Korean
• Picture Format: 16:9
• Region Code: 0 (Region-Free)
• Running Time: 75 minutes
• Release Year: 2012
• Publisher: Arthaus Musik GmbH

Overview

Heavenly Voices: The Legacy of Farinelli is a compelling documentary that delves into the extraordinary world of the castrati, focusing on their rise to fame during the Baroque era. The film, narrated by renowned countertenors Max Emanuel Cencic and Philippe Jaroussky, along with Ernesto Tomasini and other leading voices, explores the phenomenon that emerged after Pope Sixtus V banned female singers from the stage in the Papal States. This fascinating documentary not only tells the story of Farinelli, the most celebrated castrato of all time, but also highlights other legendary figures like Senesino, Caffarelli, and Carestini.

Through a blend of historical anecdotes, illustrations, and modern performances, the film brings to life the vibrant world of opera seria and the immense impact these unique voices had on the music of the Baroque age. Directed by Gino Pennacchi and Alessandro Scillitani, Heavenly Voices offers an in-depth look at the cultural and musical legacy left by these extraordinary singers.

Interesting Facts

• The film discusses how the castrati became opera superstars, thanks to their unique voices and the patronage of influential figures like Metastasio, the famous poet and librettist.
• Farinelli, the most famous castrato, was known for his incredible vocal range and emotional expressiveness, captivating audiences across Europe.
• The documentary features performances by contemporary countertenors, drawing parallels between the castrati of the past and today's operatic stars.
• Heavenly Voices also examines the social and cultural implications of the castrato phenomenon, providing a nuanced perspective on this unique chapter of music history.
• The documentary was produced by TICO Film and is distributed internationally by Poorhouse International, showcasing its broad appeal and importance in understanding Baroque music.

Publishers

• Arthaus Musik GmbH
• TICO Film
• Poorhouse International

From Backside:

In "Heavenly Voices" we tell the story of how the phenomenon of the castrati came about, largely through Pope Sixtus V. banning all female singers from stages in the Papal states, and how the most gified amongst them rose to international stardom. Names like Farinelli, Senesino, Caffarelli and Carestini come to mind, to name but the most famous ones, who enjoyed great popularity during the time of the great poet and librettist Metastasio and the opera sería.
Max Emanuel Cencic and Philippe Jaroussky, two of today's singing stars, take us back in time and talk about operatic entertainment in the Baroque Age. This is illustrated by paintings, prints and anecdotes from the time as well as major performances of today.

Hashtags

#HeavenlyVoices #Farinelli #BaroqueMusic #OperaDocumentary #ArthausMusik #TICOFilm #Castrati #OperaHistory