The artifcially created male soprano who dominated opera was known as?

The artifcially created male soprano who dominated opera was known as the castrato. Castrati were male singers who had been castrated before puberty, which allowed them to retain their high vocal range while developing the physical strength and lung capacity of adult men. Castrati were highly prized in opera during the 18th century and were often given leading roles in operas by Handel, Mozart, and other composers. The practice of castration for the purpose of creating singers was eventually outlawed in the 19th century, and the last castrato died in 1922.