Performances of Hasse 's Venetian opera Artaserse played to packed houses and Farinelli became the toast of the town .
By that stage the Opera of the Nobility had assembled a star - studded cast which now additionally included the castrato Farinelli and the soprano Francesca Cuzzoni .
Performances of Hasse 's Venetian opera Artaserse played to packed houses and castrato became the toast of the town .
By that stage the Opera of the Nobility had assembled a star - studded cast which now additionally included the castrato Farinelli and the soprano Francesca Cuzzoni .