IJBM: Opera singing has too much vibrato

Because there's so much I often can't hear the actual note they're singing! They just constantly waver around the note, but never settle on it long enough for it to actually sound like that note!

This isn't just in opera.

Bugs me too. A little is cool, but there is a point in which it becomes hard to listen to.

@ Tzetze, I know. But this is one prominent style where this is commonly featured.

You crazy.

Yeah, too much vibrato makes you sound anywhere from over-enthusiastic to old and worn-out. It sucks since opera singers really do have great voices, what with it being their job.

Choir doesn't focus much on vibrato since the point is to be audible in a group.

It sucks when really otherwise nice voices are dissed just because they aren't warbly.

Vibrato makes everything perfect. This video is all about how vibrato is better than straight tone.

I HATE THAT GUY'S VOICE.

I CANNOT STAND HOW FUCKING NASAL AND UNINTELLIGIBLE HE IS.

I had to stop about thirty seconds in.

Oh. That thing. Well I must say I do like vibrato if this is what it is. When not overdone. I know little about this subject but I have heard things that just feel too...warbly I guess? No. Shut the fuck and stop your weird warble bullshit.

Warble =/= Vibrato

Warble is something that happens with people who A. aren't using vibrato properly, or B. are old and past their prime.

Oh gawd, his voice annoys me.

Not the nasalness. I don't mind that. He talks WAY. TOO. FAST.

SLOW. THE. FUCK. DOWN.

The man is likely a more accomplished musician than anyone in this thread.

Vibrato is a signature of classical music. If you want opera to use less vibrato, you're basically saying that you want to listen to pop music instead of opera. Well, you can do that if you want.

I knew warble wasn't what I wanted but I can't think of what word I do want...

Warbling is annoying as hell though. Especially if they're the type who needs to hold a note for five hours while they warble. SHUT THE FUCK UP.

As for that dude...his voice is annoying? Eh?

Everyone hates his voice, but nobody has actually commented on the content of the video.

edited 20th Jan '11 2:40:10 PM by Grain

I thought the content of the video was very, very informative.

Could someone give an example of vibrato being annoying? I've never had any trouble discerning a pitch from a good opera singer.

Also, I used to hold the exact same sentiment re: vibrato, years ago. I no longer have said sentiment.

edited 20th Jan '11 2:40:32 PM by Pannic

I like his voice and his opinion's interesting I guess? I thought I commented on it earlier...maybe I should have made it clearer that I was commenting on it? It seems to be something I don't like seeing done badly. I generally like opera. Sort of. I need to be in the mood for it or I want it dead. I generally giggle at it because it feels over the top and can be awesome because it feels overly dramatic and epic. The high rate of...vibrato...thingyness...comes off as funny.

edited 20th Jan '11 2:44:20 PM by Aondeug

I frequently use vibrato when I sing to myself. That's because I listen to theatre music. *points at signature*.

I like opera and moderate, well-done vibrato, as I said a couple of posts ago. But I'm much more of a casual opera fan than a diehard, so opera in general just isn't my thing.

... *leaves it at that, and leaves the thread*

I didn't comment here partly because I commented on the video on youtube itself.

Basically, I said that, rather than one type of singing being much better than another—as he characterizes by blasting straight-tone repeatedly—there are times for each. Additionally, there's a difference between moderate amounts of vibrato that are common in natural singing and extremely overdone (i.e. "I never actually sing that pitch but just bounce around it") vibrato that is common in opera.

(i.e. "I never actually sing that pitch but just bounce around it")vibrato that is common in opera.

edited 21st Jan '11 6:07:26 PM by Pannic

Which part is bull?

The notion that "oh they aren't actually singing the pitch" is cartoonishly wrong on several different levels.

I've definitely sometimes found it annoyingly difficult to hear what pitch they are supposed to be singing, because they spend so little time actually singing it, and I have to end up figuring out what is effectively an Informed Attribute using the accompanying tutti.

Professional opera singers definitely know how to sing on pitch. If it sounds like they're changing pitches to you, that's because the music was composed that way intentionally, or your ear is too untrained.

Well, vibrato itself, technically speaking, includes change of pitch.

My point is that sometimes opera singers change pitch too much, such that it's hard to hear the "original" pitch. If I'm supposed to be hearing a C and all I can make out is a trill between B and Db, then that's a problem.

edited 22nd Jan '11 8:04:33 PM by GlennMagusHarvey