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What’s a squillo, and why do opera singers need it? Ming Luke

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10,324 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

An orchestra fills an opera house with music, but a singer’s voice soars above the instruments. Its melody rings out across thousands of patrons— all without any assistance from a microphone. How is it possible that a single voice can be heard so clearly? The answer lies in the physics of the human voice. Ming Luke explains the carefully honed technique of an expert opera singer.

Why do different voice types (Wagnerian, Bel Canto) require different types of training and what are some of the factors at play besides training?

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Meet The Creators

  • Director Franz Palomares
  • Educator Ming Luke
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger, Eleanor Nelsen
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Singer Ellen Leslie
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
  • Special Thanks Jenny Hunt

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