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Michael Maniaci

Michael Maniaci is an American opera singer. Possessing a male soprano voice, Maniaci is noted for his claim to be able to sing into the upper soprano range without resorting to falsetto, an otherwise common phonation for men who sing in high registers, such as countertenors. Although this was possible for castrati because of the hormonal imbalance following castration, Maniaci claims that, for some unknown reason, his larynx did not develop and lengthen completely during puberty, causing his voice not to "break" in the usual manner. Maniaci claims that this physical particularity has given him the ability to sing in the soprano register without sounding like a typical countertenor or a female singer. There are, however, critics who claim that Maniaci actually sings in falsetto. Maniaci is becoming an important presence on the international classical music scene, having already appeared in lead roles at companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, La Fenice, and Opera North. He is known mostly for singing the works of Handel, Mozart, and Monteverdi. From Wikipedia (

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Mozart: Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165: I. Allegro

Michael Maniaci

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Act II Scene 4: Il di rinascera (Armando)

Michael Maniaci, Emanuele Pedrini, Fernando Portari, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Iorio Zennaro, Laura Polverelli, Luca Favaron, Marco Vinco, Patrizia Ciofi, and Silvia Pasini

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Act II Scene 2: A suoi pie, ai suoi pianti (Chorus of Emirs, Aladino, Palmide)

Michael Maniaci, Emanuele Pedrini, Fernando Portari, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Iorio Zennaro, Laura Polverelli, Luca Favaron, Marco Vinco, Patrizia Ciofi, and Silvia Pasini

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Act I Scene 3: Ah! piu sorridere, labbro d'amore (Felicia, Chorus of People)

Michael Maniaci, Emanuele Pedrini, Fernando Portari, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Iorio Zennaro, Laura Polverelli, Luca Favaron, Marco Vinco, Patrizia Ciofi, and Silvia Pasini

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Act I Scene 2: Cessi, o miei fidi, la sorpresa (Armando)

Michael Maniaci, Emanuele Pedrini, Fernando Portari, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Iorio Zennaro, Laura Polverelli, Luca Favaron, Marco Vinco, Patrizia Ciofi, and Silvia Pasini

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Meyerbeer: Il crociato in Egitto

2010

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Mozart: Arias for Male Soprano

2010