Description： The October 21, 2026 Spanish talk show revived an extraordinary opera-and-whale clip. Here is Yulka's identity, the original date and what the sounds actually mean.
The beluga was Yulka, and the apparent duet took place on October 2, 2014, not in 2026. French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky showed David Broncano the old footage during Spain's La Revuelta.
What happened in 2014?
Jaroussky visited Yulka at the Oceanogràfic aquarium in Valencia. He sang passages associated with Handel and Vivaldi, including “Lascia ch'io pianga” from Handel's Rinaldo. A contemporary eyewitness report described whistles, clicks and high-pitched calls from Yulka, particularly noticeable when the singer performed scales. Aquarium staff were present; it was an arranged encounter, not a wild-ocean duet.
Did the whale understand opera?
Belugas are called the “canaries of the sea” because they produce so many different sounds. Aquarium researchers said Yulka had already experienced sound-related activities. A whale calling after a sung phrase can sound uncannily like a musical reply. The vocal response was real; comprehension of Handel's melody was not demonstrated. This was a reported interaction, not an experiment proving musical understanding.
Why the high voice, and why revisit the clip?
Jaroussky is a countertenor, an adult male classical singer trained to sing in a high range. He discussed the historical castrati, whose harmful treatment of boys is distinct from modern vocal technique. He traced his interest in high sounds to childhood violin study. The October 21 La Revuelta began around 9:45 p.m. local time on Spain's La 1, with guests Jesús Vázquez and Jaroussky. After showing the old clip, Jaroussky performed Reynaldo Hahn's “À Chloris” with pianist Edoardo Barsotti. The studio performance was not the aquarium video.
Conclusion
The beluga really vocalized during a 2014 performance; the singer revisited the video in 2026. The contrast is delightful: a virtuoso controlling every note meets a duet partner without a score. This account relies on RTVE's program information and contemporary reporting, not a claim to have watched the complete episode.
