“Der Hölle Rache” (The Revenge of Hell) from Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

Among the most challenging of soprano arias in the operatic repertoire are the two sung by The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Both of them require the singer to hit the F above top C – just once in her first aria but as many as four times in her second, “Der Hölle Rache”.    And that’s not all. Preparing here to take vindictive revenge on her enlightened rival Sarastro, she spits out her venom in a vocal line of wide leaps and rapid runs delivered with stinging agility.    Arranged for trumpet, “Der Hölle Rache” is no less difficult for the soloist and no less brilliant in effect.