Venus & Adonis in Hannover
Valdemar appears in La Festa Musicale and Ärt House 17’s production of John Blow’s opera Venus and Adonis at the Herrenhausen Barock. In 17th century France, castration was not allowed. So back then, the opera stars in France were not castratis, but high tenors. This high tenor voice type in French baroque music is called an haute-contre, which is not the same as a countertenor! A countertenor sings within the female vocal range (soprano, mezzosoprano or alto), whereas an haute-contre is just a high tenor. Because of the French influence at English court, the haute-contre voice type appears … Continued