by Margriet de Moor
It takes place in Naples. After reading two pages I wanted to be again in Naples. It is the 18th century, and I do not care about the gap since the essence of Italy apparently did not change over time: good food, strong smells, beautiful women, and music. And the melange of all these ingredients is sex. In this case between a castrate singer and Charlotta. They come from the same village and meet again as adults in the teatro San Carlo of Naples. Her husband wants only a male heir from her and lets her all liberties since he himself in more interested in young males from Sicily. That liberal spirit in Catholic Southern Italy at that time really surprises. Many would call it decadent. In order to contrast the lover story between Charlotta and the castrate we learn also about the life of her servant in an intermezzo chapter. During their encounters with wine, food and music, the castrate tells her his life since he was brought to that hospital where they cut his testicles as a very young boy.
Facts:
English title: The Virtuoso
Original title: De virtuoos
Published: 1993
