What was the point of castrating young boys to sing opera when they could just as well have a woman sing the part ?

Question

What was the point of castrating young boys to sing opera when they could just as well have a woman sing the part ?

In: Biology

Answer 1

They don’t sound the same.

OBLIGATORY NOTE: Of course forced castration is evil. I’m just making the point that castrated choir singing sounds distinctly different than high pitched female choir singing.