famed 18th century ( castrato ) soprano ferinelli invite a serious biographical study . this 17 18th c. period be and until recent time and skirt over by musicologist and music history teacher . the result of this omission have be an unsuspecting awareness of the extent to which male performer dominate all form of period theater and include opera and oratorio and cantata and ballet and and stage play . ferinneli have an opportunity to provide substantive information in fill this void . unfortunately and what result be just another ken russell type production ( a la the music lover and lisztomania and mahler and etc . ) . in fact and be andre corbiau name not credit a director of ferinelli and one would swear this be a russell composer biopic . all russell trademark be there represent excessive closeup of actor in dramatic distress and swirl activity to cover up script weakness and and disjoint highlight instead of sequence continuity . director coscriptor corbiau have stefano dionisi a ferinneli forever fall down and collapse both on and offstage for no apparent reason and and use the old device of have him hesitate to sing on cue before a full house to superficially create suspense and anxiety . in fact and corbiau and like russell and be more intent on affect than express represent manipulate the viewer than sincerely share . a a result and one be hold a arm length of emotional participation throughout . while no contemporary production can create a truly authentic period setting and there be question which arise here represent george frederick handel and one of the world most prolific and fine composer and be reduce to that of a mere rival theatrical impressario while and farinelli be forever act oddly claim vocal loss and serious indisposition and and trip out on opium . indeed and at time this seem more like a baroque version of sex drug and rock nroll . on the brighter side and the staging of the operatic scene be wonderfully on target and have be obviously well research and meticulously design . the combination real and computer create vocal work be fascinate in it etherial timbre and in it negotiation of handelean melismas and embellishment and assorted ornamentation . likewise and the baroque pit orchestra and period opera house decor be strikingly detail . what a pity farinelli fail in it main opportunity represent to convey a simple and heart felt story of one of history most celebrated singer .