Do opera houses use hidden microphones and loudspeakers, or do the performers sing "above" the orchestra?

Answer 1

Hello!
Opera singers do not use any form of amplification when singing. They indeed sing "above" the orchestra. Opera singers are heard so well in opera houses because of the acoustics of the acutal house... meaning the very particular way the house is created in order to project sound from the stage to the audience. Mediums of all sorts can be used... wood can be shaped in certain ways, panels placed on ceilings and walls, the interior shape of the walls can be tailored to project sound...etc. Thus, environments catering to live, unamplified musicians are built according to the physics of acoustics and guided by acoustic architecture.

Also, if you notice, the orchestra is mostly housed in the "pit." The walls and lowered nature of this space as compared to the stage allow the singers to project "above" the orchestra because the surroundings of the pit do not allow the sound to travel acoustically in the same ways as on an uninhibited stage. At times when the orchestra is level with the singer, the conductor is responsible for making sure the balance between singer and orchestra allows the singer to be heard.

Other than that, the vocal technique an opera singer is required to master in order to pursue his/her artform is the purest form of vocal production / singing. Singing in this particular way utilizes the voice to its fullest natural potential as opposed to pop singing, for instance, which calls for a very different technique with a far different focus on vocal style. In the broadest of terms, singing operatically allows the voice to project with great sound based on the ways in which a singer uses his/her breath to "support" the sound. This is one of - if not - the most important element of operatic singing compared to other forms of singing which may focus on style, image, or the manipulation of sound to fit particular genres.

I hope all of this info helped!!! I really enjoyed answering this question... can you tell I'm an opera singer?? :o)

Answer 2

We do not use amplification. There are some houses that might but most legitimate opera singers wouldn't go there. Can I sing over a 100 piece orchestra? Yes. I was trained to do this. Best to you

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Grand opera houses have excellent acoustics...they spend tons of big money on this....the performers do not have to sing "above" the orchestra --- those are their natural voices you hear.

Answer 5

Certain opera houses do, though I firmly believe in no use of ampification in an opera house. The operatic voice should be able to project without it.

Answer 6

yes