Voices at the opera
Opera is a complex performance that uses a combination of different artistic forms to create a type of illusion. In the lyric arts, voice is the element that has the greatest impact on the audience. Great singers stand out for their ability to use their voice to convey the message and emotion set out in the script and the score.
When a musician captivates an audience, few listeners will be aware of the technical effort and challenges involved in producing a beautiful sound, and that’s just as it should be. But the voice holds a special fascination, because it is an instrument we all have, and how it is used depends on the physical and emotional state of the artists. Language (and vowels) also distinguish the voice from other music instruments because the character, or timbre, of the voice can be adjusted according to the musical requirements of the script. An operatic voice must be heard over the orchestra and must reach the entire audience in a 2,000- to 3,000-seat theatre, depending on the location (1,800 seats in Quebec City).
