Opera Singer

Opera Singer

MezzoGirl

Los Angeles, CA

Female, 29

I sing beautiful music -- primarily opera -- but I also do concert work, church music, studio/scoring sessions, and whatever other performance opportunities I can get my hands on.

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73 Questions

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Last Answer on July 03, 2020

Best Rated

For people who don't like opera, is there a particular album or show that you'd recommend that might change their minds?

Asked by Jwilly almost 13 years ago

I think it depends on what interests you. For instance, my mother is not a music fan and the fact that I sing has driven her nuts for years. Then one day, she called me and said that she really wanted to try to like opera. After my initial shock, I suggested that we see Carmen together. The music is very familiar to most people (the Habanera is one of the most famous songs ever written), it's about a sexy gypsy who makes men fall in love with her, there's dancing, sex, color, murder...you name it. My mother still didn't like that one. Finally, I realized that she'd probably like an opera that dealt with history. We both love history, so... Read More +

Do opera singers smoke? Or is that an absolute no-no?

Asked by Queen B almost 12 years ago

They shouldn't, but some still do! In the US, it's rare, but overseas, many people still smoke. I don't know how they do it, but I guess they have lungs of steel. I say it's a no-no, but some make it work.

Does being fat help opera singers?

Asked by PhxTom almost 13 years ago

The jury's still out on this from the research I've done, but it does seem that larger ribcages have their advantages in singing. Almost every singer's ribcage will expand in size, which may also just give the appearance of heaviness as well. But that doesn't mean that large voices and long phrases can't come out of smaller framed people. The 'largeness' of a voice comes from the resonating cavities in the head combined with the amount of strength and release in the singer's body. Singing is so much about how you use and release body tension. It's a very physical art. Also, singing makes me insanely hungry, so perhaps people don't make the... Read More +

Do opera singers use microphones during performances?

Asked by kurlyQ almost 12 years ago

Not usually. Sometimes there are microphones above the stage or on the floors to pick up the sound for houses that are not acoustically set up for opera, but not individual mic's. Opera singers train to use the spaces in their facial mask to create our own amplification. With the range of what we sing, both dynamically and the wide range of pitches, it's very challenging to individually mic singers. Most opera singers can't stand being miked since you lose a lot of vocal color when using mic's too close to your face. There definitely are amazing sound engineers out there to make things sound good, but we enjoy relying on our technique to... Read More +

Is there a peak age for an opera singer? At what age does the human voice begin to deteriorate?

Asked by Liz almost 12 years ago

It really depends on the person. Most sopranos and tenors mature into their voices sooner than mezzos and baritones/basses. Usually, the voice matures around mid-20s or early 30s and then the voice shifts again in your 50s. Some singers will stop singing in the 50s or 60s. But, with good technique, good health and depending on the person, there's no certain age peak. Placido Domingo is still singing beautifully and he's in his 70s now. 

Is opera competitive? Are there a lot of politics when it comes to choosing leads, or does the best voice usually win out?

Asked by Seth over 11 years ago

It's very competitive, especially in America as there are not many houses in the States. There are a lot of politics in opera, like in everything. But it's sometimes efficient to go with someone you trust or know or who has a following that will sell tickets, so I can't judge it too much. You just have to be prepared for the moment when someone takes a chance on you. More often than not, it's dependendability over politics. I've sung with people who just knock my socks off, and I am so happy to recommend them for gigs because recommending great pros makes me look even better. But then others will come unprepared for a gig and people remember... Read More +

Is it dangerous to train for opera younger than a certain age? Can it damage young vocal chords if not done properly?

Asked by BRPP over 11 years ago

It's best to train classically after puberty due to the hormone changes during it. It's confusing for the young singer to learn proper technique while the instrument (primarily the vocal cords) is changing rapidly. I'd argue that giving the body time to adjust to the hormonal changes & growth development along with allowing for the maturity it takes to understand your body fully to connect to proper technique is advisable. 

While waiting the main part of puberty to pass, there are plenty of ways to prepare for a career in opera. Choral work, learning piano and other instruments, learning languages (Italian, German and French... Read More +