FARINELLI

Rarely are American auidences treated to films as sumptuous, as glorious, as breathtaking as FARINELLI, the latest triumph from Oscar-nominated director Gerard Corbiau (“The Music Teacher”, 1988), who here continues to explore his fascination with the human voice. FARINELLI is a portrait of two men, Riccardo Broschi, a composer, and his younger brother, Carlo, who, under the stage name “Farinelli”, became the most celebrated castrato singer of the 18th century. Castrated at the age of ten, Farinellis's pure and perfect voice is his primary asset. The magic of his voice enchants men and makes women faint. The salons of the rich and famous are crammed for his recitals. Riccardo composes exclusively for his brother; Farinelli's voice is Riccardos' preferred instrument, and the two are an inseperable team. Taking place on and behind some of the most beautiful stages of Europe, the film traces the true story of the brothers' complex professional and personal ties, as well as their unusual techniques for seducing some of the most attractive women of the age. In French and Italian with English subtitles.