Re: The Marriage of Figaro -- 2001-2002 Cultural Literacy Class Forum

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Date Posted: 16:51:27 01/09/02 Wed
Author: ...
Subject: Re: The Marriage of Figaro
In reply to: jaymie sadonis 's message, "The Marriage of Figaro" on 15:26:26 01/09/02 Wed

There are two reasons that I have found that explain why Cherubino is a boy role played by a female:

1.) Cherubino is a prepubescent boy, and consequently would have a higher voice. Since prepubescent boys do not have main roles in operas and men, who sing opera, can not reach a high range (their highest being tenor, but still too low for a character such a Cherubino). Thus, only women are left who can reach those required higher notes.

2.) Cherubino, at various points in the opera, has to disquise himself as a women. At those points he would be using the voice of a woman and would at those points be required to sing a mezzo-soprano role. A man would be unable to pull that off.

Although, I would think that the first is the reason, and the second was something that Mozart added for humor because Cherubino is played by a woman. Oh well, I hope this helps Cherubino seem less weird.

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