Editing Coloratura (section)

=== Vocal ranges ===
The term is not restricted to describing any one range of voice. All female and male voice types may achieve mastery of coloratura technique. There are coloratura parts for all voice types in different musical [[genre]]s.<ref name=NewGroveOpera/>

Nevertheless, the term ''coloratura'', when used without further qualification, normally means a [[coloratura soprano]]. This role, most famously typified by the Queen of the Night in [[Mozart]]'s ''[[The Magic Flute]]'',<ref>Randel (1986), p. 180.</ref> has a high range and requires the singer to execute with great facility elaborate ornamentation and embellishment, including running passages, [[Staccato|staccati]], and [[Trill (music)|trill]]s. A coloratura soprano has the vocal ability to produce notes above high C ([[Scientific pitch notation|C<sub>6</sub>]]) and possesses a [[tessitura]] ranging from A<sub>4</sub> to A<sub>5</sub> or higher (unlike lower sopranos whose tessitura is G<sub>4</sub>–G<sub>5</sub> or lower).{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}
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|[[Image:Final cadenza Valse Mad Scene Hamlet (piano-vocal score p292).jpg|thumbnail|500px|An example of a coloratura passage from a soprano role. It includes a more difficult variant (top stave) with a leap to a high D ([[Scientific pitch notation|D<sub>6</sub>]]). Final cadenza from the Valse in Ophélie's Mad Scene (Act IV) from the opera ''[[Hamlet (opera)|Hamlet]]'' (1868) by Ambroise Thomas ([http://imslp.org/wiki/Hamlet_(Thomas,_Ambroise) piano-vocal score], p. 292).]]
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Richard Miller names two types of soprano coloratura voices (the coloratura and the dramatic coloratura)<ref>Miller (2000), pp. 7–9.</ref> as well as a mezzo-soprano coloratura voice,<ref>Miller (2000), pp. 12–13.</ref> and although he does not mention the coloratura contralto, he includes mention of specific works requiring coloratura technique for the contralto voice.<ref>Miller (2000), p. 13.</ref>

Examples of coloratura music for different voice ranges include:

* [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s ''Allelujah'' (from ''[[Exsultate, jubilate]]'') may be arranged for and sung by a properly trained [[contralto]], [[mezzo-soprano]] or [[soprano]]. The piece was written for [[Castrato|soprano castrato]].
* The [[aria]] ''[[Messiah Part I#3|Every valley shall be exalted]]'' from [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]'s ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]'' is an example of a coloratura piece for [[tenor]].
* Each singer of a major role in [[Rossini]]'s operas must have a secure coloratura technique.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}
* Osmin, a character in Mozart's ''[[Die Entführung aus dem Serail|The Abduction from the Seraglio]]'', is a coloratura role for a [[Bass (voice type)|basso]].
* ''Agitata da due venti'' ("Agitated by two winds") a coloratura soprano aria, from [[Antonio Vivaldi]]'s opera ''[[Griselda (Vivaldi)|Griselda]]''.
* ''Naqui All'Affanno - Non Piu Mesta'' a coloratura contralto rondo, from [[Rossini]]'s opera ''[[La Cenerentola]]''.