Coloratura

Coloratura is an ornate, flowery style in classical singing.

The term is correctly applied to any selection sung in this manner by any voice part, but it is also used as a noun to describe soprano voice roles characterized by this style and by embellishments such as runs and trills, or the female voice that sings such roles.

Typical coloratura roles include:

• 'Blondchen' and 'Konstanze', The Abduction from the Seraglio (Mozart)
• 'Queen of the Night' The Magic Flute (Mozart)
• 'Sofie' Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss)

An example of a coloratura selection for a female voice is Allelujah, by Mozart, which may be arranged for and sung by a properly trained contralto, mezzo soprano or soprano.

An example of a coloratura selection for a male voice is the tenor aria Every Valley Shall be Exalted from Handel's Messiah.

'Osmin', a character in The Abduction from the Seraglio, is a coloratura role for a bass.