Besieged by physically exhausting music, unflattering costumes and an increasingly fickle audience, sopranos now have a bit of good news coming their way. A study to assess the artery-protecting properties claimed for high estrogen levels compared the lifespans of sopranos, altos and mezzo-sopranos, and has determined that sopranos live on average about five years longer than lower-voiced female singers, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sopranos, whose voices can sometimes reach astronomical heights, have markedly higher estrogen levels than mezzo-sopranos and altos. The study also explored the effects of testosterone on lifespan, concluding that testosterone "does not shorten life expectancy in humans." Read more:
- Sopranos Live Longer (WSJ)
- Study - Sopranos But Not Tenors Live Longer (Informa Health Care: The Aging Male)
