Can anyone sing opera?

Opera singer and City Academy tutor, Rachel Maby, writes about whether anyone can learn to sing opera, as well discussing its appeal, what makes the style so special as a singer and an audience member, and debunks the myth that opera always needs to be expensive.

Rachel also gives us a flavour of what to expect on her Opera Singing Courses, and tells what she loves most about teaching people to sing.

Can anyone learn to sing opera?

Anyone who has a passion for singing and dedication to practice can learn to sing opera. However, working as a professional opera singer is a different matter. It requires a creative personality who is willing to dedicate their life to music, have a six day working week and be able to sing on a heavy work load. Not everyone has that stamina or wants that lifestyle, but there are roles in operas for any type of singer, from dramatic to lyric to colatura singers. So yes, there's an operatic role for every classical singer out there.

How does learning opera differ from other styles?

Classical singing is all about finding the ultimate resonance your voice can achieve. I think gaining a solid classical technique as an Improver is hugely important to further your understanding where your voice lies naturally and it helps the voice to grow in both range and projection. In the most simplistic terms, classical singing differs from any other form of music making because the singer is trained to create their own inner microphone, rather than use the assistance of an electronic one, which pop, musical theatre and jazz singers use.

Another difference is the combination of acting and singing embedded in opera. I am fascinated by the emotional impact the classical voice has and how it can be used in characterisation. Opera is an incredibly powerful emotional experience as both a listener and a performer, both because of the depth of the music and the theatrical nature of the genre.

For far too long opera has been thought of as the music of the upper class...there are £10 tickets for every Opera house in the country every night - far less expensive than going to a football match!

Are there any misconceptions about opera?

Yes - for far too long opera has been thought of as exclusively the music of the upper class. This is largely to do with it being thought of as an expensive form of entertainment. It is true that it is incredibly expensive to put on high-quality opera, but audience members do not need to feel that financial pinch. There are £10 tickets for every Opera house in the country every night - far less expensive than going to a football match!