Singing too has evolved, and soprano singers reach their piercing high notes by precisely controlling the shape of their vocal tract to match its natural, resonant frequency with multiples of the one being produced by their vocal folds.

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Standouts among the scholar soloists were soprano Anne-Carolyn Bird, who negotiated the high tessitura fearlessly, and Matt Boehler, whose opulent bass brought particular humanity to Kepler's inner doubts.

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During the mad scene, Dessay raved with even more intensity than she had shown Novak Djokovic, although on this occasion she concluded her final aria before collapsing, a high E-flat being tricky for even the most agile soprano to deliver while prone.

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All this contrasts with the high-profile poster campaign for the opera, showing the Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek glamorously made up as the star.

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But what Carmela Soprano doesn't know is that matriculation at any such high-class institution does not figure to do anything special for her daughter's career prospects.

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The strings, floating high and sweet, weave a long-lined melody, eventually making way for the soprano's entrance.

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Though the role was written for soprano, it is often taken by mezzos, and Leonard matched her rich lower register with secure high notes.

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