Do Opera singers use mics when performing?

Question

I've always wondered if Opera singers use those tiny mics you clip to your clothes when they perform. Are their voices really that powerful, that they don't need any amplification? Especially the high sopranos, when they hit those high Es, Fs, and what not.

Thanks

Answer 1

Absolutely not.

Answer 2

Depends on if they want the whole world to hear them or not.

Answer 3

For singers working in opera houses, amplification is usually not necessary. There are some companies (there's one in New York, but I can't remember its name) that rely on amplification of music--but as the poster above mentioned, that's usually a function of having to work in a space that wasn't designed to have operas performed.

Answer 4

I have coached many classical vocalists for the operatic stage, and we train our singers to use their diaphragms to produce the required dynamic.  I have known vocalists to use microphones on rare occasions, but that is usually due to the lack of acoustics at the performance site, i.e., an outdoor theatre, for instance.  Most opera houses are designed to be accoustically "sound," so ultimately if the vocalist has been trained properly, there really is no need for the microphone.

Answer 5

Generally no, but there are circumstances where some amplification is required, such as when the "Three Tenors" performed in massive sports arenas.

If the auditorium is designed for opera, then amplification is not necessary. In some "multi-purpose" facilities, though, the acoustic is too "dead", and some enhancement is required.

It's too bad when this happens, as classical singing is a great acoustic form of music.