A few thoughts to catch up...

I have to say, exploring the hidden world of opera has definitely been interesting. We all become familiar with what opera is at an early age, but without any further education, do we really no what it is? Rarely do we ever truly learn about the art behind it. We are exposed to opera in so many areas, such as commercials and TV shows, without even realizing it. Though it's all around me, it still seems so foreign. Especially after learning so many new names and terminology regarding the art. Even the things that didn't seem so foreign to me, like Mozart's career, prove to extend so much deeper than my present knowledge. Turns out, this whole culture that I've been blind to, is packed with history and has made it's way into our culture today.
As far as our lesson on castration goes, the concept is extremely fascinating. I honestly did not even know that this was a technique used for vocal reasons. This method of course seems off-putting to our society today, but proves to have been pretty conventional in the 18th century. I can't help but wonder if the young singers actually wanted to be castrated for the sake of their voices, or just let it happen because it was encouraged? And, at such a young age did they even understand  the biology and purpose behind the procedure? Also, in addition to that… was it an honor to be a castrati, or just something common? Regardless, men like Farinelli and Moreschi have become the prime examples of successful castratis. As much as this topic seems to be packed with information, castration is really only a small segment of opera's culture.