Now there’s scientific proof that opera supertitles should probably be used for all languages, not just foreign ones. Researchers in Australia published findings last week which demonstrate that as sopranos sing higher, their pronunciation becomes distorted. The techniques they use to project the high notes, tuning their vocal tracts for the best resonance, come at the expense of their vowels sounding similar. There are other reasons for unintelligible lyrics, most notably, designing the reverberation of a music hall for both orchestral and vocal performance involves compromises. With non-supertitled opera, it’s best to just enjoy the beauty of the music and make sure to read up on the plot beforehand. (via Andante)