SENESINO,IL CASTRATO

Senesino (Francesco Bernardi) (October 31, 1686–November 27, 1758) was a celebrated Italian contralto castrato, particularly remembered today for his long collaboration with the composer George Frideric Handel.Thus he came to sing alongside the great soprano castrato Farinelli, and their meeting on stage (in the pasticcio Artaserse) led to a famous incident, reported by the music historian Charles Burney.
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"Senesino had the part of a furious tyrant, and Farinelli that of an unfortunate hero in chains; but in the course of the first air, the captive so softened the heart of the tyrant, that Senesino, forgetting his stage-character, ran to Farinelli and embraced him in his own."

ANDREAS SCHOLL,THE COUNTERTENOR----GERMANY CAFFARELLI + SENESINO

Andreas Scholl (born November 10, 1967) is a German countertenor, a male classical singer in the alto vocal range. He specialises in Baroque music. His range is the same as that of the celebrated 18th century alto castrato, Senesino, for whom Handel wrote his greatest alto roles.

Fanfare Magazine says: "There are more excellent countertenors before the public today than ever before, but one stands out above all others, as Caruso among tenors a century ago: Andreas Scholl". In 2005, Scholl was the first countertenor (and the only German) ever to be invited to sing solo at The Last Night of the Proms in London.