Pants Roles in Opera

 https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/explore-more/operas-greatest-trouser-roles/ https://www.gutenberg.org/files/62215/62215-h/62215-h.htm https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Trouser-Roles-The-development-of-the-role-in-opera-Iwamoto/f4ba505ee8d1e64a57e5daf98d146db974f7dea1 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Voicing-Gender%3A-Castrati%2C-Travesti%2C-and-the-Second-Andr%C3%A9/521bc7222dcac88d178e798dfcdc96833f820ddc https://www.mediafire.com/file/or2utt7yjrhajsm/Breeches_and_Breaches_Cross-Dress_Theater.pdf/file https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fantasy+girls%3A+the+enduring+lesbian+appeal+of+Japan%27s+all-female...-a0459349636  

  Takarazuka is a theatre troupe and school in Japan that is all women, meaning all male roles become pants roles . They’re very well-funded, and making it into the school is considered a very high achievement. Takarazuka was founded in 1913 and is considered responsible for lesbians existing in Japan. The majority of their fans are women and with women playing male and female roles on stage and usually romancing each other, it’s not a huge surprise that it basically created a whole group of lesbians, but it was still a big deal.    This is common in a lot of Asian countries and Takarazuka is no exception- stars are usually not allowed to have relationships, so that they’re more desirable to their fans. So because the ladies of the Takarazuka troupe were not allowed to date men… they started dating each other. When this was first discovered, there was another group imitating Takarazuka who’s two stars were rumored to be dating. When they attempted double suicide and survi...

  The faux opera Il Muto is inspired by “The Marriage of Figaro” and Serafimo mirrors Cherubino. The two characters are very similar and serve a similar purpose in their story. Cherubino is a young page in the service of Count Almaviva. He is a charismatic and amorous character who has a penchant for getting into romantic entanglements. Cherubino is known for his youthful exuberance, charm, and the fact that he is constantly infatuated with women.  Throughout the opera, Cherubino finds himself caught in the midst of the romantic intrigues unfolding in the Almaviva household. He becomes infatuated with the Countess, and his attempts at wooing women lead to comedic situations. One of the highlights of the opera is Cherubino's aria "Non so più cosa son, cosa faccio" ("I don't know what I am, what I do"), in which he expresses his confusion and excitement about the mysteries of love. Cherubino plays a crucial role in the plot, contributing to the opera's int...

Siebel is a character in Charles Gounod's opera "Faust". The opera tells the story of the scholar Faust, who makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles in exchange for worldly pleasures. Siebel is a young man in love with Marguerite, and he is one of the more sympathetic characters in the opera. Siebel is a student and has a gentle, sincere nature. His love for Marguerite is pure and unselfish, in contrast to the more complex relationships depicted in the opera. One of the notable moments involving Siebel is his aria "Faites-lui mes aveux" ("Let me confess to her"), where he expresses his devotion to Marguerite and places flowers at her door, hoping for her love in return.   Siebel becomes entangled in the tragic events of the opera, particularly as they relate to Marguerite. His character serves as a foil to Faust and Mephistopheles, embodying innocence and genuine affection. Despite his minor role in the larger scheme of Faust's story, Siebel...

  Hansel - Hansel and Gretel Mezzo Soprano The opera tells the story of two siblings, Hansel and Gretel, who are sent into the woods by their impoverished parents  to gather strawberries. However, they become lost and find themselves in the clutches of a wicked witch who lives in a  magical gingerbread house. The witch plans to cook and eat the children but is eventually outsmarted by Hansel and  Gretel. The opera explores themes of family, resourcefulness, and the triumph of good over evil.   One of the most well-known parts of the opera is the famous "Evening Prayer" duet, where Hansel and Gretel seek comfort in a beautiful, serene moment amidst the dark and threatening forest. The opera is often performed around the holiday season and is known for its enchanting music and charming fairy-tale atmosphere.   Orpheus - Orpheus and Eurydice Contralto The opera begins with Orpheus mourning the death of his wife, Eurydice. His grief is so powerful that Amor, th...

  The transition from castrato roles to trouser roles in opera is a reflection of historical and social changes in the 18th and 19th centuries. Castrati, male singers who were castrated before puberty to preserve their high singing voices, were prominent in opera during the Baroque period. However, as societal attitudes changed and castration became increasingly controversial and eventually illegal, the use of castrati declined. By the late 18th century, there was growing ethical and moral opposition to the practice of castration for musical purposes. The idea of castrating young boys to create singers was increasingly seen as inhumane, and societal attitudes shifted against it. Enlightenment ideals, which emphasized reason, individual rights, and the pursuit of happiness, influenced changing perceptions of morality. Castration for the sake of creating opera singers was perceived as a violation of individual rights and bodily integrity. The 18th century saw the rise of sentimentali...