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THE SONGBIRD: Ingeborg Hallstein was born in Munich in 1936 and was taught singing by her mother. Her debut role was Musetta in 1957 and she quickly booked coloratura roles in major opera houses and festivals, such as Salzburg in 1960 (several operas and concerts over six seasons), Vienna in 1961, Munich in 1961 (as the leading coloratura until 1973), and Covent Garden in 1962. She made dozens of recordings in the studio, television, and radio of opera, lieder, concert waltzes, light music, operetta, musical theater, and even an album of songs for children. These two arias of the Queen of the Night are from a production in Vienna in 1962, conducted by Karajan.
THE MUSIC: "The Magic Flute" ("Die Zauberflöte") K. 620 premiered on September 30, 1791 in Vienna, just two months before Mozart's death. It was a success right out of the gate and has consistently been one of the most popular and produced operas in the world. The iconic role of the Queen of the Night was composed specifically for Josepha Hofer, Mozart's sister-in-law, and a vocal virtuosa. It's a short role with only two arias and one ensemble, but the extreme vocal demands of the role have made it a defining role in the coloratura soprano repertoire. The Queen's first aria "O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn" introduces the character as empathetic and righteous -- its noble opening recitative is followed by a somber, grief-laden section "Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren" in G-minor, then concludes with a swift, commanding allegro moderato with complex coloratura figures culminating in one short High F. The second aria is the well-known "Der hölle rache kocht in meinem Herzen" where the character's extreme rage is uniquely expressed in the music, including a sequence of furious staccato figures topped with four High Fs.