Swanscombe schoolgirl could be next opera star after learning the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute in German

Swanscombe schoolgirl could be next opera star after learning the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute in German

News Hour

A nine-year-old has learnt to sing one of the most challenging songs in opera – and she did it in just two days and in German.

Eliza Rajabalinia, from Northfleet, saw Mozart’s The Magic Flute at The Royal Opera House while on a school trip and fell in love with the music.

The Year 5 student at The Craylands School, in Swanscombe, said: “It was the first time I had seen a show. It was absolutely amazing, it motivated me to sing opera.

“The sound and the music was extraordinary and I just loved it. It is an absolutely beautiful opera. It just really touched everyone’s hearts. The music really made my heart warm.”

She went home afterwards and started watching videos and listening to the performances to learn how it should be sung.

“I learnt the lyrics and listed to the beat,” Eliza said. “I just did warm-ups to help my vocal cords so they did not break. Some of it was pretty hard but I got there in the end.”

Her mum Mahanz Hajipour added: “She has sung in the choir but not opera. She was practising at home and I thought it was a YouTube video. It has been so emotional hearing her sing.

“I am so proud of Eliza. I was in shock, I just asked how can you do that. This is a gift.

Eliza Rajabalinia has learnt to sing the Queen of the Night aria
Eliza Rajabalinia has learnt to sing the Queen of the Night aria

“She has always loved music and singing but this is completely different. It has touched my heart.”

The class had been learning about opera and Mozart before attending the show at The Royal House in Convent Garden as part of its school matinees project.

Each year more than 10,000 pupils and teachers are welcomed to its school matinees which aim to give children and young people their first taste of ballet and opera in a full performance.

Eliza’s teacher Robert Dymott said: “You never know how children are going to react to opera. We did a whole week of immersive lessons, teaching them about the story and the life of Mozart.

“By the time they went they knew what the show was about. We did a lot of follow-up work after too.

“It was an amazing week and to hear a child has gone home and enjoyed it so much that they learn one of the songs, there is no greater reward.

From left: Mum Mahanz Hajipour, Eliza Rajabalinia and dad Majid Rajabalinia are very proud
From left: Mum Mahanz Hajipour, Eliza Rajabalinia and dad Majid Rajabalinia are very proud

“The first time Eliza sung it, it was emotional. To discover a voice like that, it makes everything else that comes with the job worth it.

“Eliza has taken what we saw and it has had an impact on other people. I have been working here for 10 years and I have never had anyone who can sing like that.”

The piece Eliza can now perform in German is from The Magic Flute and is a key moment for one of its main characters, the Queen of the Night.

The aria is known to be one of the most challenging and demanding pieces of opera to sing beacause of the vocal range required.

But Eliza seems to have it nailed, despite having no training in this genre of music and has performed in front of her school, bringing many to tears and others asking for her autograph.

From left: Mum Mahanz Hajipour, dad Majid Rajabalinia, Eliza and teacher Robert Dymott
From left: Mum Mahanz Hajipour, dad Majid Rajabalinia, Eliza and teacher Robert Dymott

Mr Dymott has even sent a clip of her performing to The Royal Opera House in the hopes she will be discovered.

Director of learning and participation at The Royal Opera House, Jillian Barker, said: “It was inspiring to see the video of Eliza singing the Queen of the Night – what a fantastic voice.

“We hope very much that Eliza will keep singing and one day fulfil her ambition of singing on The Royal Opera House stage.

“I, for one, look forward to being at the opening night.”

And one day Eliza hopes to be able to do just that. She said: “I want to sing it on stage at The Royal Opera House and would like to be an opera singer. But I can always be other things too.

“I want to sing any song to my heart’s content and I just love singing opera. I am going to continue learning songs.”

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