Liz, Perhaps you may be aware that modern day singers who sound like contraltos are called counter-tenors. No, they are NOT castrated and very often sport beards and moustaches to prove that! The best-known today are David Daniels (gay), Paul Bowman and a Parsi - Bejon Mehta. The latter is a relative of Zubin Mehta, the conductor. I had the pleasure of hearing the former in the flesh in London. What a voice! Asfan.
--- On Wed, 10/12/08, myonepe...@aol.com <myonepe...@aol.com> wrote: From: myonepe...@aol.com <myonepe...@aol.com> Subject: Re: g_b The last castrato: Moreschi: the Angel of Rome To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, 10 December, 2008, 3:28 PM In a message dated 12/9/2008 10:26:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, adit.b...@gmail. com writes: Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for lettingme know. I will try and look it up and if possible in my next trip to Bangkok get a pirated copy. :-) BTW one reason why I posted the article was also because I was kind of fascinated by the similarity with Hijras (I know the differences are stark too....). The fact that music, often devotional was the reason for castration.. ..being one. best, Aditya B Aditya Possibly if we could catch them sooner...we could have some singers to put Asha and Lata to shame.. But in India it is illegal to castrate before 18 without a parents permission.. .and most already cannot keep a tune...no less modulate...in falsetto or high soprano...at that age.. In Bangkok and US drag bars most of the kathoey singers lip-synch... like most movie stars in India.. Though probably not castrated... Michael Jackson remains my favorite...kathoey real singer and dancer.. Elizabeth Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/