For anyone who is in, or can make it to, Chicago on March 20 through March 22, there will be three performances of Monsters and Prodigies: The History of the Castrati at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The decription of the show on their website is

Direct from Mexico City, Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes' Claudio Valdés is causing a worldwide sensation with his award winning theater/opera about the castrati - boys castrated before puberty to preserve the soprano range of their voices, an 18th century practice that propelled many boys from poverty to stardom. Through brilliant musical performances and extreme physical comedy, Monsters and Prodigies offers a humorous and sophisticated satire of Baroque opera and a century of music ruled by the castrati.

Running time: 105 minutes, no intermission

Recommended for mature audiences

No late seating permitted

Performed in Spanish with English supertitles

From the Internet address below you can access a few photos of the performers and a brief video of Javier Medina in performance.

Javier Medina lost both testicles to medical malpractice at the age of 12. It was, unfortunately, only when he was much older (and completely without HRT) that he realized that he had a future in music. He did not have the intensive voice training that was part of the life of Italian castrati, though his vocal range is, of course, that of a proper castrato.

Javier is a kind and gentle soul. He has been an active and very helpful member of the Castrati History group. I have enjoyed a home-made CD of his singing a variety of songs from opera to Mexican pop.

http://www.mcachicago.org/performances/ ... php?id=378