An Opera Singer's Tips for Hitting High Notes

And its the first thing Luna sings in the show.

She spent years working her voice up to that pitch.

So we asked her how she did it.

And Luna tells us she had the note when she started vocal lessons at age 15.

Not everyones vocal cords are physically capable of that.

But whatever your range, it’s possible for you to extend it with years of practice.

Rediscover Your Range

Before The Exterminating Angel, Luna hadnt sung the high A in years.

But she still had to get back into practice.

Last year, Luna took a month off to plan her wedding.

you’ve got the option to really hear the difference.

This is where you need good communication with your voice teacher.

There are different tricks for different versions of a note.

The mechanics behind how it actually functions are fascinating.

(8:30-10:30 is good stuff, says Luna.)

Greenawald describes the operatic voice as controlled screaming.

I agree with her, says Luna.

Especially when it comes to the A.

Unlike a Broadway actor, an opera singer cant do eight shows a week.

Opera singers work without microphones, so their training focuses more on amplifying their voices.

The Met staggers its performances to preserve the singers voices.

The physical stress of singing hits sopranos the hardest.

Luna schedules voice-heavy activities, like press interviews, for off-days.

I think I do, she says.

Im a default opera singer.

Im not fluent in any of these languages, she says.

I get by pretty well when Im in Germany.

Theres a lot of work there for opera singers.

During a performance, Luna is paying attention to a lot at once.

Shes interpreting the line, as well as concentrating on certain sounds, like doubling thetinnotte.

At the same time, shes listening to her scene partners.

Its layer upon layer.