Posted on 07/11/2021 10:28:34 AM PDT by NohSpinZone
Soprano Diana Damrau sings 'Der Hölle Rache', the famous Queen of the Night aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute, with Dorothea Röschmann as Pamina.
Mozart wrote Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) for a suburban theatre in Vienna, the Theater auf der Wieden. He drew on the magical spectacle and earthy comedy of popular Viennese theatre. As well as being a comedy, The Magic Flute is an expression of Mozart’s profound spiritual beliefs: Enlightenment concerns with the search for wisdom and virtue are at the heart of this enchanting tale. The Magic Flute was an instant success with audiences and Mozart’s supposed rival Salieri described it as an ‘operone’ – a great opera.
David McVicar’s classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart’s work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies. The setting provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart’s kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night’s coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina’s lyrical love duets and Papageno’s hearty, folksong-like arias.
She’s probably the best in the role..
I do, however, get a kick out of this person’s performance ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczltMKzJTY
For the aria by the QotN that takes place earlier in the opera, O Zittre Nicht, my fave version is Lucia Popp’s which I’ve linked to below. One can see how Tamino could be easily fooled by that voice. Many Queens turn on the harshness and evil in this first aria which kind of spoils it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aJA1dFqr1QI
Just a personal preference of mine. An amazing performance an amazing performance by Popp but a bit too slow.
If it is the video clip that I am thinking of, I have had that video on my Operatic playlist for the last 4 years. Excellent choice!
Diana is great, too. So fortunate to have recordings of these wonderful angels of music available at our fingertips. Beats what the general public considers music these days.
Yeah, she is pretty good in that role.
Best film of the opera ever made . . . even though in Swedish! (we have Ingmar Bergman to thank for that of course).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-LtheSy7w
OUT OF THIS WORLD WONDERFUL!
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