Why should they be?
Musical scales notes are pitches.
The perception of pitch to the human brain does not depend only on frequency but on intensity too [Stevens].
For example A4 440Hz if played not softly will sound flat to the human brain.
Technocratic thinking of notes are frequencies may have led to the cheap midi intonation of music (without for example human adjusting of each midi internment or part for correct master tuning or intonation) very familiar in elevators or supermarkets.
An electronic tuning instrument does not have a human brain either.
So coming to an element of interpretation. If for example Beethoven writes in his score C4 and (ff) double forte or double loud, a good conductor or oboe player for example must play the correct frequency for that intensity so that it sounds C4 to the human brain.
The conductor and perhaps even more the audience may hear a different pitch as they are further away from the oboe. But the important element is that the orchestra is in tune with itself.
It does not really matter if the audience may hear a few Mels above or below as long as the whole sounds harmonic to their ear brain.
Mel is the unit of pitch.
Frequency is the unit of frequency.
References:
Sound and Hearing - S. S. Stevens, Fred Warshopsky - Chapter 4, The Mind's Influence - Life Science Series
https://www.sfu.ca/sonic-studio-webdav/handbook/Pitch.html
Music, Physics and Engineering - Harry Olson - 1967 page 251 after Stevens - Dover
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