Senesino took his name from his native town of Siena, where he was born around the year 1680. He was a male mezzo soprano, or, according to some contemporary writers, contralto. His voice was considered by some critics to be even more beautiful than that of his contemporary and fellow-castrato, Farinelli.
Little is known of his early life, but he is recorded as having studied with the great Bernacchi at Bologna. Having sung in Genoa, Naples and Venice, he travelled to Dresden, where he was heard by the composer Handel.
By that time Handel, who had settled in England, was involved in producting Italian opera in the London theatres. Knowing the English public's fascination with the castrato voice, he engaged Senesino to perform with his company.
Senesino remained with Handel from 1720 until 1728, and was re-engaged in 1730. In 1733 he was head-hunted by a rival company at Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he remained until 1737.
While with Handel, he created leading r├┤les in fifteen of his operas. His androgynous vocal and physical beauty seem to have ravished female audience members. One contemporary critic wrote of his voice as ΓÇ£clear, penetrating and flexible, with faultless intonation and a perfect shake."
In 1738 Senescino returned to Italy, to sing in the following season at the Teatro San Carlo, in Naples. About two years previously a male soprano, Giusto Tenducci, had been born in Siena. Also sometimes referred to as Senescino, his greatest claim to fame is that Mozart wrote him a song. A third castrato from Siena, this time the soprano Andrea Martini, was also occasionally known by the name of his birthplace. He was born in 1761 and died in 1819.
The great Senescino died in his home town about 1750. Tenducci, having also spent part of his career in England, returned to Italy to die in 1790.
