Portrait of a Castrato

Contents

• Introduction
• 1. Creating a castrato
• 2. The politics of patronage: 1638-53
• 3. In pursuit of prestige: 1653-5
• 4. The sexuality of the castrato
• 5. Disgrace and transformation: 1656-71
• 6. Atto Melani and the cantata
• 7. Completing the portrait: 1671-1714
• Appendices: A. The letters of Atto Melani
• B. Letters addressed to or concerning Atto Melani
• C. Satires: Sopra Atto Melani musico and Al Signor Atto Melani
• D. Excerpt from the Receuil des defenses of Nicolas Fouquet
• E. Biographical sketch from Tommaso Trenta's Memorie
• F. The cantata texts of Atto Melani, with analyses and translations
• G. The Wills: For Italy
• For France
• H. The cabinet in the 'Salotto dell'Abbate Melani', from the inventory of 1782.