Vibrato

Why do opera singers sing with vibrato?

I know that vibrato helps to carry the voice further in the concert hall, but nowadays we have microphones.
Is there an example of an opera without vibrato technique? Or an opera with 'pop singing technique'?

Maarten

I don't think vibrato is a matter of projection of the voice. It is used, in combination with non vibrato parts, for expressive reasons. In the baroque era vibrato wasn't used the same way. Take a look to Bach cantatas, the soprano voice (particularly when children take the part) doesn't use vibrato.

Some pop singers have an incredible control over vibrato and can sing, for example, a note with no vibrato and turn it into vibrato (Streisand). It enhances the expression.

On the other hand, in opera theaters there are no microphones (except when it's being recorded).

To stay with tradition, singers don't sing with microphones too often.

A lot of the vibrato does come from the technique used to project the voice, as the means to do this naturally create vibrato.