Queen Of The Night Aria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lyrics


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Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem herzen
Tot und verzweiflung
Tot und verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschmerzen
Sarastro todesschmerzen,
So bist du meine tochter nimmermehr
So bist du mein', meine tochter nimmermehr
(cadence)

Meine tochter nimmermehr

(cadence)

So bist du meine tochter nimmermehr

Verstossen sei auf ewig
Verlassen sei auf ewig
Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig
Alle bande der natur
Verstossen
Verlassen
Und zertrümmert
Alle bande der natur

Alle Bande…

(cadence)

Alle bande der natur
Wenn nicht durch dich
Sarastro wird erblassen!

Hört, Hört, Hört,
Rachegötter




Hoert
Der Mutter Schwur!

Overall Meaning

The Queen of the Night Aria is a highly dramatic piece from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute." The aria begins with the character of Queen of the Night singing "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen," which translates to "the wrath of hell boils in my heart." She is consumed by anger and despair as she contemplates her daughter Pamina's decision to reject her in favor of the benevolent and wise Sarastro. The Queen of the Night vows revenge against Sarastro while expressing her feelings of disownment towards her daughter.


As the aria continues, the Queen of the Night declares that Pamina is no longer her daughter, and that she is now forever banished and abandoned. She sings of destroying every bond of nature and annihilating any connection to the natural world. The Queen of the Night concludes the aria by addressing the gods of revenge, commanding them to listen to her mother's oath and ensure that Sarastro suffers the consequences of his actions.


Line by Line Meaning

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem herzen
My heart boils with the wrath of hell


Tot und verzweiflung
Death and despair


Tot und verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Death and despair surround me!


Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschmerzen
If Sarastro does not feel death’s pain through you


Sarastro todesschmerzen,
Sarastro's death pains,


So bist du meine tochter nimmermehr
Then you are no longer my daughter


So bist du mein', meine tochter nimmermehr
You will no longer be mine, my daughter


Verstossen sei auf ewig
Be forever cast out


Verlassen sei auf ewig
Be forever abandoned


Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig
Be forever shattered


Alle bande der natur
All bonds of nature


Alle bande…
All bonds...


Wenn nicht durch dich Sarastro wird erblassen!
If Sarastro does not weaken through you


Hört, Hört, Hört,
Listen, listen, listen,


Rachegötter
Gods of revenge


Hoert
Hear


Der Mutter Schwur!
The mother's oath!




Writer(s): Terry Davies, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@valROFL

Mozart be like: “lol I’m not the one that’s gonna sing this”

@shirleyrombough8173

It wouldn't surprise me if Mozart did think this exactly. I think I read that he deliberately did write some devilish music for a soprano he had had some wotds with.

@Kelsi-2014

@@shirleyrombough8173 supposedly he wrote it specifically for his sister who was an amazing vocalist. So he either really loved her or hated her lol

@MultiKamil97

@@shirleyrombough8173That aria is called Come Scoglio and is from the opera called Cosi Fan Tutte. Mozart wrote it for soprano Adriana Ferrarese Del Bene who was known for raising her chin up during high notes and down when reaching for low notes. That's why this aria has a lot of high notes and low notes one after another. It was meant to make her look kinda like chicken while singing. Mozart was such a troll lol

@markiangooley

Same attitude Bach had, usually expressed politely by experts as “Bach never spared the performer.”

@alembess9129

Surprise!

32 More Replies...

@nachoijp

I love how she mixes the hateful revenge feelings with a tinge of sweetness and motherly concern, even her face changes to a pantomime of a caring mother. Her vocals are impeccable and her acting elevates this to ineffable levels.

@davidwright8432

... but her daughter will be in therapy forever.

@JBarr-lw6kp

Sweetness and motherly concern? You should stop drinking bourbon before breakfast -- this is pure evil hatred for Sarastro and total unconcern for her kid. Read the subtitles: "If you don't kill Sarastro for me you will no longer be my daughter." Charming.

@bebopbountyhead

I was just thinking the same thing when she was singing the truncated scales: she has her hand over her head like a mother giving a lullaby to her child.

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