The Queen of the Night
The Queen wants Sarastro dead. Not in the same way sometimes people secretly wish someone dead. Nope. The Queen is serious. And She wants her daughter, Pamina, to kill him. If Pamina refuses, she threatens to disown her. This is quite a family conversation, isn't it?. At this point, if the daughter keeps refusing the task, I almost expect the Queen to hand Pamina the number of a hit-man.
The music is beautiful. The melody is beautiful. The voice climbs higher and higher until I start wondering how a human being is actually producing some of those notes. Everything is fast, precise, dramatic and completely under control. That contrast is fascinating. Meanwhile, the woman singing is demanding a murder. By the end, I almost want to call the police.
I can listen to the aria and enjoy the music without having the slightest sympathy for the character. In fact, the better she sings, the more alarming she becomes. Mozart gives her music that is so dazzling that it almost distracts me from what she is saying.
Almost.
There is something strange about hearing anger, jealousy, revenge becoming extraordinary music. Such ugly emotions expressed so beautifully. Murder is terrible, obviously, but at least sing properly while discussing it. The Queen of the Night is furious, and Mozart gives her fury speed, precision and some of the most spectacular notes I have ever heard a singer attempt.
So I go back to my original thought. A beautiful melody with terrifying lyrics. With Opera, you can say almost anything as long as you sing it in tune.