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During the 16th Century, women in Italy were banned from church choirs as well as from performing on the stage. Which male voice would sing the parts traditionally meant for the female voice?

Answer: The castrato. The castrato voice was a male soprano or alto voice produced as a result of castration during puberty. The illegal practice produced a treble voice of extraordinary power and was in great demand in the 17th and 18th century operas. Castrato’s were first heard in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

Source: Britannica Ready Reference Encyclopedia

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