Musico
The Italian term musico has a number of meanings:
- Originally, the term referred to any trained, as opposed to amateur, musician.
- In the 18th century, the polite term was used for the voice-type known today as castrato, which was considered a derogatory term at the time.
- In the 19th century, after the disappearance of castrati from opera, the term referred to a female singer, usually a mezzo-soprano, but sometimes a contralto, in a breeches role, often referred to as a primo musico. A diminutive form was also occasionally used.
