Luciana Serra - Mozart's Queen of Night

Luciana Serra
The great "soprano di coloratura"
Her fame reached a peak during the 1980s, when she performed the "Queen of the night" (Königin der Nacht) in Die Zauberflöte .That performance soon made of Luciana Serra a "Queen" of the stage par excellence.
In this production of one of Mozart's best-loved operas, staged by the Metropolitan Opera of New York with sets designed by David Hockney.

[@theseventhammer]

absolutely legendary performance - she performs this exactly according to how Mozart envisioned it - the staccato notes were are meant to sound "not human" and Luciana delivers this 100%

[@russcrow8887]

Luciana Serra is without doubt the greatest and most magnificent singer of this opera of all time! She is a Goddess! Thank you for the blessing of your amazing voice and performances! Bravo!!

[@morcellemorcelle618]

Idk, I still prefer Diana Damrau

[@BrudgamPeter]

@@morcellemorcelle618 Edda Moser !!

[@user-zo4tt3ze4s]

Кристина Дойтеком 😊

[@lolo00265]

She is just stunning. She's the best at singing this area: her powerful voice, stronger than anything, her face, that transmits coldness and austerity, her body and her costume, everything is just marvellous. Sopranos like her are gone. Luckily Internet helps us to recall these glorious times for Opera.

[@danielpurgason3018]

I absolutely love your comments. . . I'm a wind player, not even a singer, and I appreciate this trascsendent performance

[@Bzcenci812]

To Alessandro: My father didn't want to go to the theatry in his old age because he said he had heard the best and the new ones were not as good. He meant Lily Pons (his favourite) Claudia Muzio and some others. We have also heard "our best" and dream of past glorious times, and so on and so on. We have to put up with what we have or do as my father. As for me, my ear is not so developped to tell the difference between my favourites and their "replacement", but, I abhorr of the new productions.

[@azur555]

She sings effortlessly and beautifully withour trying too hard. I love her

[@Malestrazj]

Try to listen to Susanne Elmark singing "queen of the night", there's a video of it here on youtube, lyrics are in danish but it is the same song. That performance is from 2009, she's the living proof that the times of sopranos with truly beautiful magical voices are not yet gone.

[@cxthsripps691]

Yeah too much drama and weak-feeble voices these days, opera singers are more actresses these days. But honestly, the queen of the night is what makes this opera interesting

[@AstriaICOW]

can't believe that there is absolutely NO microphone involved. what you hear is their 100% REAL voice with NO alterations of ANY kind!! Amazing!!

[@MrSwifts31]

Unlike pop singers,and musicals,where a face/head mike is used;NO opera house in the world uses mikes.This is what can make it difficult for opera singers,many of whom travel around the world.They have to scale their voices up (and down) to suit the size of the theatre.Of course sometimes the theatre is just too large for their voices, and sometimes they strain them. I used to work at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden,and they still don't use mikes.

[@angryjalapeno]

A Paradox Actually I heard many allegations that opera houses today mic voices that simply are too small for the role but where the singer has a pretty voice and is pretty to look at.

[@AstriaICOW]

A Jalapeño Not sure where you got that information. But major opera houses absolutely do not use microphones unless they want to alter the voice for some kind of special effect, which is not done for classical operas like Mozart, modern or contemporary operas maybe. I'm not aware of a single world-class opera singer who is so nice to look at that their voice needs a microphone. And I have a bunch of examples of small voices that you can clearly tell that they cannot project very well. For example Natalie Dessay, Barbara Bonney, Gundula Janowitz. All three do no ever use microphones despite having smaller voices.

[@3toliczbapierwsza]

there was a microphone used to record this ^^

[@AstriaICOW]

3toliczbapierwsza it's still much more realistic than using a microphone to sing, because the microphone makes the voice sound differently. Whereas if you sing without a microphone, just record it. It's like American Idol auditions. 100% authentic.

[@LenarLaurito]

She is breathtaking. She sings like a bird on 4:14. I love her.

[@itsdune079]

Lenar Laurito Also at 7:53. Absolutely stunning.

[@keli4775]

she is a "human instrument"!

[@pietrorossi2243]

Ll

[@montsesalazar6457]

This woman is not human, simply amazing!

[@238assante]

you can see the diaphragm work in the famous high notes. Nothing fake there.. wunderbar :)

[@2009grifin1]

I would show this to my choir to demonstrate how the diaphragm works.

[@GrandDaddyCough]

No one thought it wasn't real

[@Bzcenci812]

To Gerald: Even the Swarowsky gems move!

[@80Mrmirko]

La precisione nel canto, l'intonazione sempre impeccabile, le armoniche strabilianti rendono questa donna un colosso. Grazie Luciana!

[@huntersparks5710]

This has always been my absolute favorite performance of the Aria. I know people usually point to the part we all know as being the most taxing, but I've always been most impressed by the runs at 4:13 . The control and accuracy is simply unparalleled.

[@theenglishtongue1365]

Made in Italy.

[@EverlastingOpera]

As I always say, this is one of the bests performances of Die Zauberflöte. Luciana Serra is definitely outstanding! She is so great that you need to think a lot about finding a competitor with her coloratura skills. Brava!

[@lancetop]

MY FAVORITE Queen of the Night performance of all time. The Supreme Serra, the lovely, talented, gifted, and generous Supreme Serra!

[@Ralph032789]

I really like how she executed this part at 8:02 to 8:05. I'm not an expert but after watching so many versions from other singers it appears to be the most artistic and dramatic.

[@QRSC-fh2ob]

I am devastated that I went to like this video but I had already liked it!!! Why can't I like it again?!?!?!

[@andytico0]

Luciana Serra is the only true queen of the night, no dubt !

[@sarawgf1653]

yeah she's the best!!!❤❤

[@fkwc110]

100% 👍🏻

[@n1ght_ch3f84]

Diana Damrau begs to differ

[@davidvscalvim2836]

@@n1ght_ch3f84 In terms of acting skills, sure! Vocally? Not even a top 5.

[@freshname]

Edda Moser be like: Who's being disrespectful to The Queen here? I will obliterate you.

[@andreabarbani1878]

un usignolo! la migliore esecuzione di sempre ! There's only one QUEEN and that's Luciana Serra!

[@salumbre365]

Now this is something you don't see every day: A coloratura who drowns a whole orchestra! Wow!

[@Louloupiu]

She's the best Queen of the Night, really! Amazing voice! She sings it almost effortlessly. Just breathtaking!

[@pinolella1689]

Serra, la più grande interprete in assoluto di questo brano e non solo

[@aldenfriala2405]

Cristina Deutekom?

[@javimolina01]

14 years and still made me cry of happiness every single time I watch it.. my favorite video hands down! THANK YOU! ❤

[@Ikuha84]

I looove her costume. That crown is awesome :)

[@brownpaul476]

Danm, she has some really good control over her vocals. and to hit the high notes like that. wow

[@supercubotto]

Luciana Serra......VOCE REGINA!!!!!

[@vendetta4v]

The best Queen of the Night performance there is!

[@RobertEvening]

Precisa, impeccabile e comunque espressiva ed emozionante. Brava Luciana.

[@mdnk2565]

sono d'accordo!

[@Nicoles442]

Look at her ribcage ! That women is supporting her sound so well. I hope one day I can support without thinking like that. wow

[@Nicoles442]

Quite the opposite, she keeps h her ribcage expanded and uses breath supprt without letting it collapse

[@Michael-hz2pl]

Floatie⁷ Translation: You perk your breasts up and sing with them in a perked up position. When you perk your breasts up, it literally forces you to breathe correctly, where everything (the pressure you apply) will come from the lower half of your stomach. Your stomach will bounce and move/jiggle all over the place, but your ribcage should NEVER leave a pushed out position. Breathe in as deep as you possibly can, and hold the position with your breasts are in. Only allow your stomach to move when you exhale. This should result in the proper breathing placement

[@jsaloma]

The greatest Queen of Night ever!

[@moe3691]

03:45 when you mother calls your name and you have earphones on so she does it 3 times...

[@talvela100]

Voce straordinaria e musicalità ai massimi livelli

[@helenacamps4577]

the best soprano from all versions I have listened to, no doubt!

[@wazn4totoro]

There needs to be a new word to describe the wonder of this womans voice.

[@anasager]

the best "Queen of the night" ever...

[@toninogalie2794]

Una delle più belle interpretazioni de: "La regina della notte". Meravigliosa e bravissima Luciana.

[@BigEarRadio]

She breaks my heart with joy every time I watch this performance. Her voice and delivery are absolute perfection. The best I have ever seen. Wonderful! Would love to meet her just to tell her how much I love to hear her sing!

[@francescomazzella5940]

Mai udito nulla di simile! Una tecnica, un virtuosismo,una coloratura... e poi una voce di puro cristallo...

[@miguelorellana8813]

me he dado a la tarea de ver muchos performance incluyendo a Diana Damrau y si ella tiene excelente voz, pero la técnica de luciana Serra en el manejo del aire y la fuerza de voz es incomparable además de su presencia y dominio escénico es una gran cantante soprano de coloratura.... su voz no tiene comparación la piel se pone Chinita de sólo escuchar su voz y que personificación... the best aria the queen of the night... grande Luciana Serra dominio del aire, voz muy particular y con fuerza que más poder pedirle a una luminaria como ella .....indiscutible diva

[@amethmendives8332]

Pero el papel de la Reina de la Noche, la voz de Luciana es muy aguda, Diana Damrau en la Reina de la Noche es fenomenal, y Luciana en los Cuentos de Hoffman.

[@8ONJO55]

La voz de Cristina Deutekom es mucho más potente y clara.

[@jesusnuovo5346]

Me pasó lo mismo que a usted, he escuchado muchas pero Luciana Serra es mi favorita en este personaje ♥

[@francescomazzella5940]

@@8ONJO55 stiamo parlando di un mostro di bravura, come la Deutekorn, ma la performance di Luciana e' strabiliante, per perfezione tecnica, fraseggio, coloritura. Un momento di grazia, di quelli da tramandare a future generazioni. Ne' la Deutkorn, ne' la Damrau, ne' tantomeno la Bartoli si avvicinano a tale perfezione...

[@robertharinek5081]

Sono assolutamente d'accordo. La voce di signora Luciana Serra è talmente splendida, che non posso trovare parole giuste per descriverla.

[@toninogalie2794]

Bravissima: una delle migliori interpretazioni de "La regina della notte"

[@lunacanela09]

DIOS MIO!!!no me canso de oirla : la mejor reina de la noche; se me enchina la piel de oir esas notas tan dificiles ; ha de haber sido maravilloso estar en vivo oirla y verla cantar; no me extraña los largos aplausos al final del video

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

??

[@KrishnaSimone]

@@HattieMcDanielonaMoon ??

[@JairoAgama777]

Es más afinada que Diana Damrau ,)

[@micheline.silva.]

Melhor versão de Queen of the night já cantada de todos os tempos!!!

[@RekoStpaul]

Words can do no justice for this performance. 10/10

[@MarioStahl1983]

In that role she was (in terms of vocals) the best ever. PERIOD.

[@MUDRO21]

Cara Maestra è l’icona della coloratura ! Regina dell Belcanto 🌹

[@robertharinek5081]

Assolutamente d'accordo.

[@gabrielcuzenic7399]

I discovered this piece with that version... And Luciana serra is still the best Queen of the night after all this years... Everything is perfect ❤️🙏

[@juancamayo9462]

most beautiful and powerfull voice, let me ear amazed!!! She born for that character, if Mozar lived for sure she will be her first choice!

[@lorenzofranceschelli]

Vengono i brividi di fronte a tale bravura. Uno spettacolo, immensa prestazione.

[@gemmadeltigullio]

Unica, nessuna come lei.

[@gemmadeltigullio]

Più l'ascolto e più mi rammarico di non averla potuta ascoltare dal vivo. Sovrasta l'orchestra ed è tutto dire!

[@lancetop]

In this role, Lucianna becomes the Supreme Serra:)

[@tizianacasetta8770]

Meravigliosa, straordinaria, incantevole.

[@80Mrmirko]

The perfection!

[@fbbomber]

Meravigliosa regina la serra, impeccabile vocalmente e scenicamente. Grandiosa

[@andrecueca]

in my humble opinion the best queen of the night ever...so touching when trying to convince him to help her...and so evil when atacking her daughter....all this with a voice that doesnt fail and sounds like a robot of perfection

[@mushaakiss]

My favorite part of this aria starts at 4:04

[@96speechless]

+mushaakiss mine too :)

[@Segalahis]

Entire aria is kinda marverlous, but this part really is the most impressive.

[@alejandracampos4099]

Maravillosamente perfecta, la mejor interpretación de reina de la noche, la admiro mucho señora Luciana Serra, es usted la mejor!!!!!

[@3adhalat504]

How in the world do they do that with their voices!!!

[@musicalkid14852]

+3adhalat You'd be surprised...with the right training and the right understanding on how your vocal mechanism works, it's quite easy. I took a couple of opera lessons and it felt so easy to sing the way they do.

[@murceg0electrico]

+Armando Villa-Ignacio You took a couple of opera lessons and you can already sing the queen of the night aria? Oh dear, what is the Opera of Paris doing, trying to recruit sopranos wasting years of their lives at the conservatory!

[@musicalkid14852]

not what i meant! sorry haha. I meant singing in that style is relatively easy and feels better on your voice!

[@loftyskies3956]

Oh yer

[@angryjalapeno]

This is so not true. All singers lose their range and their voice with advancing age. Some lose it sooner due to bad technique or bad habits regardless of genre. What opera singer have to do is to project their voice over an orchestra and they therefore must learn a technique to sing in a certain way ... it is not at all "natural"; it requires studying and knowing your own instrument.

[@andrewnygard9368]

A genuine maestro at the peak of her game. Amazing.

[@BigEarRadio]

I weep tears of joy and amazement every time I watch this, it's quite simply my favourite operatic performance ever! Wonderful in every way!!

[@harveyc8385]

The crown is not big enough.

[@nguyenssyquan]

And earth round enough for her voice arrive to my knowledge 😢❤

[@margiesmith1880]

The crown is just fine

[@sudriers]

Sin dudas una de las mejores Reinas de la Noche. Una belleza oír la musicalidad de esa voz magnífica. Felicitaciones.

[@addicted2trance]

angelic voice...incredible performance!!

[@ciroandreotti6575]

La enorme grandezza di Mozart. Il piccolo, grande Wolfie!

[@osrodrig]

BRAVISIMA!!!!!!! ☆☆☆☆☆ Perfection, this beautifulness makes me tears of joy.

[@claudiasiefer8495]

Beautiful phrasing, no?

[@dg5669]

There has never been and there will never be a better queen of the night. This performace is epic, magnificent, stupendous.

[@MrMilfejunior]

This interpretation and this perfection of notes from 3:06 (How wonderful!) ... And I only know this fluidity of notes with Luciana 3:24 (not to mention all the breathing technique used, as can clearly be seen in 3:23 when inflates all the chest) ... PERFECTION ... True force of the nature

[@giggles2302]

BRAVISSIMA!!!

[@areyouoka]

Luciana Serra !!! The Best of the Best of the Best !!!

[@mjremy2605]

Ahhhh! What a force of nature this voice. Beautiful interpretation like a cold machine staccato. Her fury comes out in machine gun staccato coloratura notes, superb. And her costume is one of the best for this role. Very powerful, rich, magical looking. The girl role was well done too, very dramatic poses. The good old days of opera. Such a pity that young people don't know what opera is today. My daughter went to her first opera at age 6 and was transfixed by the stage and the orchestra. It sparked her imagination enormously. She saw Carmen, then Lakme. They made a profound influence on her and she named her company after one of them. There should be mandatory opera attendance for all school kids with an essay following.

[@michelecosta4779]

La mitica e unica Luciana Serra

[@josanavarro1]

Bravo!! Perfección absoluta

[@emajej_]

this is so amazing! i watch this every day (no joke)

[@mikeloquesea8431]

Same here :3

[@onurdas9375]

+emajej Same here

[@rag2enzima768]

me too

[@punkyinthebrain]

me too! My daughter Amie is captivated by this Queen of the Night. She is 7 and we're off to Wien to watch this Masonic opera in April!

[@oceanecrey8965]

Woh ! extraordinaire ! magnifique ! L'interprétation est absolument parfaite, grâce à l'âge de la chanteuse mais aussi par son charisme, son jeu parfaitement juste, on y croit ! J'adore les nuances expressives de son chant jamais entendues jusqu'ici chez d'autres chanteuses. Félicitations !

[@ummjt]

There are some things in life you think 'yeah with some practice I could do that'... I could definitely NOT do this! Bravo!

[@andrecueca]

i think she is the best queen of all times...so touching and such a wonderful coloratura...she is very special

[@boodistGeek]

Queen Luciana lives forever in our hearts!

[@alondraromero8721]

Me enamoran cada vez mas sus coloraturas 😍😍❤

[@olivialynn6806]

Literally THE BEST Queen of the Night costume I have ever seen. Just gorgeous. I want it.

[@TheScylla666]

This entire production was super close to the original drafts of the opera costumes!

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart585]

que bella voz es un angel en la tierra con tan impresionante voz es una ave fenix con un canto tan hermoso mozart que creatividad adoro todas sus piezas adoro su voz es impresionante luciana tu nombre estara grabado en mi corazon con tan bella interpretacion LA MEJOR REINA DE LA NOCHE

[@izarob]

Impresionante. En O Zittre Nicht llega a emocionar su tristeza. ¡Qué voz y fuerza expresiva!

Completamente de acuerdo contigo. Con estas arias Mozart fijó un reto terrible para cualquier soprano. Aquí Luciana supera maravillosamente esta prueba.

[@alessandroma23]

Superba!

[@rsg3265]

The best Queen ever

[@carollaviny6882]

esta opera é um alivio e um acalmo para minha alma amo demaiss todas operas!!💜👏🎼🎼😌😍

[@marcioaguiar1985]

In my opinion, her voice is more crystalline and higher than Diana's voice, but Diana is much more expressive and acts as a real queen of the night. Anyway, both are great talents. Greets from Brazil.

[@keli4775]

3:23 Luciana used her voice to express a sad atmosphere. Even if I didn't understand what the lyrics were singing, I knew she was helpless! Her expression is in her singing! 3:30 What a beautiful voice! This is the real Opera! Look at Diana Damrau, she shook her head and body, she didn't understand Queen's "powerlessness" at this time! But so many people said she played well? Bullshit!!!

[@hakenammarmaulanaviiif096]

And she didn't use microphone

[@hakenammarmaulanaviiif096]

I have full version for this performance kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJu9l3t8ha6ebck

[@wvfonseca]

Absurdamente magnífico! Bravíssimo!

[@KidIndigo1]

Ay caramba. I loved Diana Damrau's performance (and still do), but this is, well... better. Damrau is all force, in a good way. Serra lends subtleties.

[@Gotenks7Kid]

KidIndigo1 all depends on the type of character you think the queen should have. Dianne is trying to stay restrained but the anger the hells fury seeps through, whereas with this it's more trying to teach a lesson, with undertones of frustration rather than anger, like royalty is expected too be. Both have there positives and negatives

[@MrsPisaroni]

Utterly magnificent performance,

[@MichelleToscano3010]

Que arrepiante! Cara! Que interpretação! Que Maravilha! Bravo 👏👏👏👏👏

[@jesusnuovo5346]

By far my favorite in this role. Since the first time I listened to this performance, she became one of my favorite sopranos. Amazing!

[@danirijilla]

impecable and mind blowing. Beautifully delivered.

[@lloydaran]

Brava, brava! What a voice, without microphones... So bright and clear.

[@kauesoul1]

OMG No words...amazing!!!

[@edwardjosephfarrell2976]

The GOAT!!!

[@refreshbutton]

Wonderful, a voice full of passion.

[@MrAnya0001]

this is my Queen of the night.

[@matteovasta5952]

Unanime consenso. La migliore interpretazione di un’aria quasi a se.

[@DidixLolita]

She's awesome💜

[@silviafeggi5867]

Meravigliosa!!! Inarrivabile ❤❤

[@dakambla]

Realmente una Reina del canto

[@BruceBebe]

Bravo Luciana, Diva! Io ti amo Luciana, tutta una donna bella. Autentica Regina della notte.

[@JohnJohn-eu9yk]

What can I say??? Aplause!!! 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 She is.the best singing this Opera. It is like its had been made for her voice.

[@bassodivo1]

the squillo omg!😍