Who were the castrati of the baroque period?

Answer 1

The baroque period in the Italian Opera was a period in which females were not able to perform in religious ceremonies. Castratos were males who had a minor surgery on their testicles before puberty in order to avoid a voice change, so that men could perform female roles.

Answer 2

Women were not allowed to be on the stage in the early days of opera, and so castrati (the plural of castrato) were used to sing the higher, female roles. Castrati were highly valued in Italy, and the greater the talent, the greater the pay and the perks -- gold, jewels, expensive clothing, and even houses. In those days, it may well have been seen as an acceptable trade-off: a life of comfort at the very least and fame and riches at the highest level for the price of ones testicles.