"Lasciatemi morire" o faró "La Finta Pazza": Embodying Vocal Nothingness on Stage in Italian and French 17th century Operatic Lame

The thesis aim has been to define and formulate an understanding in sound as well as in words around the concept of pure voice in relation to the performance of 17th century vocal music from a 21st century singer's practice-based perspective with reference to theories of nothingness, the role of the 17th century female singer, ornamentation (over-vocalization) and the singing of the nightingale.