Coloratura

Coloratura, nicknamed Rara and stage-named Countess Coloratura, is a female Earth pony and supporting character who appears in the season five episode The Mane Attraction and the season nine episode The Last Problem. She is a famous pop singer in Equestria and a childhood friend of Applejack's.

Development and design[ ]

Coloratura's design was inspired by Lena Hall's "red carpet look" at the 2014 Tony Awards ceremony.^[1]

Episode writer Amy Keating Rogers came up with the name "Countess Coloratura" specifically because she wanted her name to have a title and musical reference.^[2]

"Coloratura" is an Italian musical term that refers to the elaborate arrangement of a vocal melody, particularly in opera.

Depiction in the series[ ]

Coloratura appears in The Mane Attraction, described by Pinkie Pie as "the biggest pony pop star in all of Equestria". As a filly, she met and befriended Applejack at Camp Friendship; Applejack gave her the nickname "Rara" (shortened from Coloratura), and they wrote the song Equestria, the Land I Love together. Some time later, Coloratura moves to Manehattan in order to become famous, and she and Applejack communicate via letter before eventually losing touch.

In present day, Coloratura has grown up to become a pop singer under the stage name "Countess Coloratura". She travels to Ponyville with her manager Svengallop and "Hot Pony"^[3] backup dancers to perform in the Helping Hooves Music Festival. However, her performances have become flashier, and her attitude has become aloof and pompous.

Applejack learns that Coloratura's changes are the result of her manager Svengallop, who exploits her stardom and intimidates other ponies from behind the scenes. When she tries to talk to Coloratura about it, Coloratura takes offense, and the two have a mild falling-out. Determined to make her old friend realize the truth, Applejack sets Svengallop up to expose his true nature, and an appalled Coloratura finds herself abandoned by him.

At the end of the episode, Coloratura learns to embrace her true self and sings The Magic Inside in front of a large audience of ponies. To show her gratitude to Applejack, she also sings a reprise of Equestria, the Land I Love with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

In the season seven episode Rock Solid Friendship, Rarity collects some valuable gems for Coloratura's album release party. She is also mentioned at the beginning of Honest Apple.

In the season nine episode The Last Problem, Coloratura is featured on the front page of the Foal Free Press, and she briefly appears in Applejack's group shot during The Magic of Friendship Grows.

Depiction in Equestria Girls[ ]

In the Summertime Short Epic Fails, Countess Coloratura's human counterpart is depicted in a magazine article clumsily doing yoga.

Other depictions[ ]

Chapter books [ ]

Countess Coloratura is mentioned in chapter 13 of Discord and the Ponyville Players Dramarama , "Discord's Secret Debut". Her mention in the book precedes her appearance in the show. She also appears in Beyond Equestria: Pinkie Pie Steps Up as one of the Glammy Award nominees and the target of Svengallop's revenge plot, but luckily her name is cleared at the end of the story.

Magazine [ ]

Countess Coloratura's human counterpart is featured in the Signature My Little Pony Equestria Girls magazine issue 14 comic adaptation of Epic Fails.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

My Little Pony (mobile game) [ ]

Countess Coloratura:
She is the greatest pop star in all of Equestria! Ponies will come from all over to be dazzled by her stage show, even Princess Celestia!
Rara:
This pop star is now at peace with her past and hearing her sing about it is truly a blast!
Nightmare Coloratura:
This diva definitely let fame go to her head. Still a great singer though.
Rockin' Countess Coloratura:
Just because she's a pop singer doesn't mean she can't enjoy rock 'n' roll sometimes...

The Elements of Harmony Vol. II guidebook[ ]

COUNTESS COLORATURA is one of Equestria's hottest pop stars. Unfortunately, she let fame go to her head and acted like a diva until her childhood friend Applejack revealed the error of her ways.

Personality[ ]

As a filly, Coloratura is portrayed as kindhearted and friendly, and she demonstrates a talent for singing. As a grown mare, she is somewhat of an aloof diva with high standards - through the guidance of her manager Svengallop - and only greets other ponies with hoof-shaped autograph stamps. However, she loves doing charity work and meeting school foals at each event she attends. After being helped by Applejack, Coloratura embraces her true self again and regains her passion for music.

Merchandise[ ]

A brushable toy of Coloratura was released in 2016 under the toyline's "Explore Equestria" label.^[8]

An Enterplay poster featuring Coloratura was distributed at Ponycon NYC 2016.^[9]

In the Marks in Time expansion set of Enterplay's collectible card game, card #40 U of Coloratura gives her the description "As Rara grew older she moved up to being a camp counselor. Staff asked her to sing the Equestrian Anthem at the start of each summer." In the Defenders of Equestria expansion set, card #41 SR of Coloratura gives her the description "When Rara gets up on stage and lets the magic in her heart shine through, she can move mountains without even stepping one hoof off the stage."

Quotes[ ]

"Hoofsies!"

— The Mane Attraction

"Absolutely not. My favorite part of any event is meeting with the schoolponies!"

— The Mane Attraction

"I am not Rara! I am Countess Coloratura! And while we may have been friends when we were young, we have clearly gone in different directions!"

— The Mane Attraction

"You clearly don't understand the real me!"

— The Mane Attraction

"Of course. After all, the show must go on!"

— The Mane Attraction

"This song may be familiar, but yet, it's totally different. Kind of like me, Rara."

— The Mane Attraction

"That girl is on fiyah!"

— Enterplay trading card series 4 #F26 card of Nightmare Star ^[10]

Gallery[ ]

Coloratura crying in happiness while performing her song S5E24

Coloratura image gallery

See also[ ]

• Coloratura, Happy Camper on the Collectible Card Game Wiki
• Coloratura, Razzle Dazzle on the Collectible Card Game Wiki
• Coloratura, Simply Rara on the Collectible Card Game Wiki
• Countess Coloratura on the My Little Pony Gameloft Wiki
• Rara on the My Little Pony Gameloft Wiki
• Sapphire Shores and Songbird Serenade
• Count Caesar and Count Cumulonimbus

References[ ]