Mozart: Der Hölle Rache (Queen of the Night Aria) from The Magic Flute

This aria (a song in an opera) is one of the most famous pieces in all of operatic literature. It requires a highly trained, specialized voice called coloratura soprano. In the first clip below, watch Diana Damrau’s vowels as she sings the light, high, quickly moving notes toward the end of the aria. You’ll notice she has a very specific vowel shape for each pitch.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the most prolific composers in the Classical Era. In his short life he wrote 41 symphonies and numerous arias, concertos, string quartets, piano sonatas, and much more. Mozart is considered, along with Franz Josef Haydn, to be the greatest of the Classical Era composers.

Mozart: Der Hölle Rache from The Magic Flute (studio version)

Mozart: Der Hölle Rache from The Magic Flute (stage version)

You can read more about the opera The Magic Flute here: