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Koloratur

coloratura (elaborate ornamental vocal passage)

noun ko-lo-ra-TUUR Rare
Arts & Culture Music

Origin: from Italian coloratura, from colorare (to colour)

Also means

florid ornamentation in singing

Usage Note

Koloratur denotes fast, virtuosic runs, trills, and ornaments sung by a Koloratursopran. The term also describes a soprano voice type (Koloratursopranistin) capable of such agility, especially in Baroque and bel canto opera.

Examples

"Die Koloratur in der Arie der Königin der Nacht gilt als eine der schwierigsten der Opernliteratur."

Natural Translation

The coloratura in the Queen of the Night's aria is considered one of the most difficult in operatic literature.

Literal Translation

The coloratura in the aria of the Queen of the Night counts as one of the most difficult of the opera literature.

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