Why is correct pronunciation so important for singers?

Why is correct pronunciation so important for singers?

The overall aspect

In important singing competition or in auditions for agencies and conductors you can impress with a correct pronunciation – some of them are very picky on that. It gives the jury the impression you really understand the text you are singing, which is very important to be engaged  in an opera house or for an important concert.

The technical aspect

Singing with the correct pronunciation in a given language can resolve technical vocal issues and will enhance the expressive potential of your interpretation regardless of whether you or your audience understand the sung language.

The artistic aspect

The correct pronunciation of the text in Opera, Operetta, Oratorio or Lied -Literature makes your interpretation  powerful and much more attractive on stage and fascinating to the audience.

Correct pronunciation definitely makes a big difference!

- Verena De Prato

 

The Austrian soprano Verena De Prato studied singing in Vienna with the famous bass Otto Edelmann. She is fluent in German, Italian and English. She understands the challenges that singers and accompanists have when dealing with texts in a foreign language, the difficulty in perfecting pronunciation of the performing languages (mostly German and Italian) in order to refine their expressive interpretations.

Take a look at her biography and her course here: