La sonnambula

This article is about the Bellini opera. For other uses, see La sonnambula (disambiguation).
La sonnambula
Opera by Vincenzo Bellini

The sleepwalker in act 2, sc. 2,
(William de Leftwich Dodge, 1899)
Librettist Felice Romani
Language Italian
Premiere 6 March 1831 (1831-03-06)
Teatro Carcano, Milan
Ah! non credea mirarti / Sì presto estinto, o fiore
("I did not believe you would fade so soon, oh flower").
This text from act 2, scene 2, of La sonnambula appears on Bellini's tomb in Catania

La sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) is an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini set to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime written by Eugène Scribe and choreographed by Jean-Pierre Aumer called La somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur. The ballet had premiered in Paris in September 1827 at the height of a fashion for stage works incorporating somnambulism.

The role of Amina was originally written for the soprano sfogato Giuditta Pasta and the tenor Giovanni Battista Rubini, but during Bellini's lifetime another soprano sfogato, Maria Malibran, was a notable exponent of the role. The first performance took place at the Teatro Carcano in Milan on 6 March 1831.

The majority of twentieth-century recordings have been made with a soprano cast as Amina, usually with added top-notes and other changes according to tradition, although it was released in soprano sfogato voice (not be confused with the modern mezzo, nonexistent at the time) who sang soprano and contralto roles unmodified.

The phrase Ah! non credea mirarti / Sì presto estinto, o fiore ("I did not believe you would fade so soon, oh flower") from Amina's final aria is inscribed on Bellini's tomb in the Catania Cathedral in Sicily.

Composition history

Vincenzo Bellini
by Natale Schiavoni
Giuditta Pasta as Amina, May 1831 premiere
Tenor Giovanni
Battista Rubini
sang Elvino
Maria Malibran as Amina – London 1833
Jenny Lind in La sonnambula, 1840s

Returning to Milan after the I Capuleti e i Montecchi performances in March 1830, little occurred until the latter part of April when Bellini was able to negotiate a contracts with both the Milan house for the autumn of 1831 and another for the 1832 Carnival season at La Fenice in Venice; these operas were to become Norma for La Scala and Beatrice di Tenda for Venice.[1] Writing to his uncle in Sicily, the composer reported that "I shall earn almost twice as much as if I had composed [only for the Venetian impresario]".[2]

However, there was also a contract for a second Milan house for the following winter season for as-yet an unnamed opera, but it had already been agreed that Giuditta Pasta, who had achieved success in Milan in 1829 and 1830 appearing in several major operas, would be the principal artist.

Then Bellini experienced the re-occurrence of an illness which had emerged in Venice due to pressure of work and the bad weather, and which consistently recurred after each opera. The gastro-enteric condition—which he described as "a tremendous inflammatory gastric bilious fever"—[3] resulted in his being cared for by friends. It was not until the summer, when he went to stay near Lake Como, that the pressure to decide upon a subject for the following winter's opera became more urgent. That Pasta owned a house near Como and would be staying there over the summer was the reason that Felice Romani traveled to meet both her and Bellini.

By 15 July they had decided on a subject for early 1831, but it was uncertain as to whether Pasta was interested in singing a trousers role, that of the protagonist, Ernani, in an adaptation of Victor Hugo's Hernani, later set to music by Giuseppe Verdi in 1844. With both men having various other commitments, by the end of November 1830 nothing had been achieved in the way of writing either the libretto or the score of Ernani[4] but, by January, the situation and the subject had changed. Bellini wrote that "[Romani] is now writing La sonnambula, ossia I Due Fidanzati svezzeri....It must go on stage on 20 February at the latest."[5]

That music which he was beginning to use for Ernani was transferred to Sonnambula is not in doubt, and, as Weinstein comments, "he was as ready as most other composers of his era to reuse in a new situation musical passages created for a different, earlier one".[6]

During Bellini's lifetime another sfogato, Maria Malibran, was to become a notable exponent of the role of Amina.

Performance history

19th century

With its pastoral setting and story, La sonnambula was an immediate success and is still regularly performed. The title role of Amina (the sleepwalker) with its high tessitura is renowned for its difficulty, requiring a complete command of trills and florid technique,[7] but it fitted Pasta's vocal capabilities, her soprano also having been described as a soprano sfogato, one which designates a contralto who is capable—by sheer industry or natural talent—of extending her upper range and being able to encompass the coloratura soprano tessitura.

The opera's premiere performance took place on 6 March 1831, a little later than the original date. Its success was partly due to the differences between Romani's earlier libretti and this one, as well as "the accumulation of operatic experience which both [Bellini] and Romani had brought to its creation."[8] Press reactions were universally positive, as was that of the Russian composer, Mikhail Glinka, who attended and wrote overwhelmingly enthusiastically:

Pasta and Rubini sang with the most evident enthusiasm to support their favourite conductor [sic]; the second act the singers themselves wept and carried the audience along with them.[9]

After its premiere, the opera was performed in London on 28 July 1831 at the King’s Theatre and in New York on 13 November 1835 at the Park Theatre.[10] Herbert Weinstock provides a comprehensive year-by-year listing of performances following the premiere and then, with some gaps, all the way up to 1900.[11]

Later, it was a vehicle for showcasing Jenny Lind, Emma Albani and—in the early 20th century—for Lina Pagliughi and Toti Dal Monte.

20th century and beyond Weinstein's account of performances given charts those in the 20th century beginning from 1905. Stagings were presented as frequently as every two years in one European or North American venue or another, and they continued through the 1950s bel canto revivals up to the publication of his book in 1971.[11] The opera was rescued from the ornamental excesses and misrepresentations more similar to the baroque style than the bel canto of Bellini when it was sung by Maria Callas in the now-famous 1955 production by Luchino Visconti at La Scala.

Contributing to the revivals were Joan Sutherland's taking the role of Amina at Covent Garden in 1961[12] and at the Metropolitan Opera in 1963, where the role become one of her most significant successes.

While not part of the standard repertory, La sonnambula is performed reasonably frequently in the 21st century. It has been given in three productions with Natalie Dessay, the first at The Santa Fe Opera in 2004, secondly in Paris during the 2006/07 season, and thirdly at the Metropolitan Opera in 2009, a production which was revived in Spring 2014 with Diana Damrau singing the role of Amina. A production was mounted by The Royal Opera in London in 2011. The first mezzo-soprano to record the role was Frederica von Stade in 1980, followed by Cecilia Bartoli.[13]

As can be seen in the list in the "Recordings" section, live performances in the 1950s (there being two by Callas in those years) and from the 1990s have been recorded on CD and DVD. Additionally in the 21st century, Operabase, the database of upcoming (and some past) performances, shows 127 performances of 21 productions in 16 cities presented since 1 August 2012 as well as those planned to be staged up to 2015.[14]

Roles

Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani as Amina by Karl Bryullov, 1834
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 6 March 1831
(Conductor: Nicola Zamboni Petrini)[15]
Count Rodolfo bass Luciano Mariani
Amina soprano Giuditta Pasta
Elvino tenor Giovanni Battista Rubini
Lisa soprano Elisa Taccani
Teresa mezzo-soprano Felicita Baillou-Hilaret
Alessio bass Lorenzo Biondi
Notary tenor Antonio Crippa
Villagers – Chorus

Synopsis

Act 1

Scene 1: A village, a mill in the background

As the betrothal procession of Amina and Elvino approaches, the villagers all proclaiming joy for Amina, Lisa, the proprietress of the inn, comes outside expressing her misery: Tutto è gioia, tutto è festa...Sol per me non non v'ha contento / "All is joy and merriment... I alone am miserable". She is consumed with jealousy for she had once been betrothed to Elvino and had been abandoned by him in favour of Amina. The lovelorn Alessio arrives, but she rejects his advances. All assembled proclaim the beauty of Amina: In Elvezia non v'ha rosa / fresca e cara al par d'Amina / "In Switzerland there is no flower sweeter, dearer than Amina". Then Amina comes out of the mill with her foster-mother, Teresa. She is the owner of the mill and had adopted Amina many years before. Amina thanks her, also expressing her thanks to her assembled friends for their kind wishes. (Aria: Come per me sereno / oggi rinacque il di! / "How brightly this day dawned for me".) Additionally, she thanks Alessio, who tells her that he has composed the wedding song and organised the celebrations; she wishes him well in his courtship of Lisa, but Lisa cynically rejects the idea of love. Elvino arrives, exclaiming Perdona, o mio diletta / "Forgive me my beloved", and explaining that he had to stop on his way at his mother's grave to ask her blessing on Amina. As they exchange vows, the notary asks what she brings to the partnership: "Only my heart" she answers at which Elvino's exclaims: "Ah the heart is everything!". (Elvino's aria, then Amina, then all express their love and their joy: Prendi: l'anel ti dono / che un dì recava all'ara / "Here, receive this ring that the beloved spirit who smiled upon our love wore at the altar".)

The sound of horses' hooves and a cracking whip is heard. A stranger arrives, asking the way to the castle. Lisa points out that it is getting late and he will not reach it before dark and she offers him lodging at her inn. When he says that he knows it, all are surprised. (Rodolfo's aria: Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni, / in cui lieti, in cui sereni / "O lovely scenes, again I see you, / where in serenity I spent the calm and happy days of my earliest youth".) The newcomer, who surprises the villagers by his familiarity with the locality, asks about the celebrations and admires Amina, who reminds him of a girl he had loved long ago. (Tu non sai con quei begli occhi / come dolce il cor mi tocchi / "You can't know how those dear eyes gently touch my heart, what adorable beauty".) He admits to having once stayed in the castle, whose lord has been dead for four years. When Teresa explains that his son had vanished some years previously, the stranger assures them that he is alive and will return. As darkness approaches the villagers warn him that it is time to be indoors to avoid the village phantom: A fosco cielo, a notte bruna,/ al fioco raggio d'incerta luna / "When the sky is dark at night, and the moon's rays are weak, at the gloomy thunder's sound [....] a shade appears." Not being superstitious, he assures them that they will soon be free of the apparition. Elvino is jealous of the stranger's admiration of Amina; he is jealous even of the breezes that caress her, but he promises her he will reform. (Duet finale, Elvino and Amina: Son geloso del zefiro errante / che ti scherza col crin e col velo / "I envy the wandering breeze that plays with your hair, your veil..")

Scene 2: A room in the inn

Lisa enters Rodolfo's room to see if all is well. She reveals that his identity is known to all as Rodolfo, the long-lost son of the count. She advises him that the village is preparing a formal welcome; meanwhile she wishes be the first to pay her respects. She is flattered when he begins a flirtation with her, but runs out at the sound of people approaching, dropping her handkerchief which the Count picks up. He sees the approaching phantom who he recognises as Amina. She enters the room, walking in her sleep, all the while calling for Elvino and asking where he is. Realising that her nocturnal wanderings have given rise to the story of the village phantom, Rodolfo is about to take advantage of her helpless state. But then he is struck by her obvious innocence and refrains: (Scene: first Rodolfo: O ciel! che tento / "God! What am I doing?"; then, separately, Amina: Oh! come lieto è il popolo / "How happy all the people are, accompanying us to the church"; then together.) As Amina continues her sleepwalk, Rodolfo hears the sound of people approaching and, with no other way out, he climbs out of the window.

Amina continues to sleep on the sofa as the villagers arrive at the inn. Lisa enters and points to Amina, who wakes up at the noise. Elvino, believing her faithless, rejects her in fury. Only Teresa believes in her innocence: Ensemble finale, first Amina D'un pensiero e d'un accento / "In my thought or in my words never , never have I sinned"; then Elvino: Voglia il cielo che il duol ch'io sento / "Heaven keep you from feeling ever the pain that I feel now!"; then the people and Teresa, the former proclaiming her treachery, Teresa pleading for her to be allowed to explain. Elvino then exclaims that there will be no wedding, and each expresses his or her emotional reaction to this discovery.

Act 2

Scene 1: A wood

Alessandro Sanquirico's set design for act 2 scene 1
Alessandro Sanquirico's set design for the act. 2 scene 2 sleepwalking scene for the premiere production

On their way to ask the count to attest to Amina's innocence, the villagers rest in the woods and consider how they will express their support to him: (Chorus: Qui la selva è più folta ed ombrosa / "Here the wood is thick and dark"). Amina and Teresa arrive and are on a similar mission, but Amina is despondent, although Teresa encourages her daughter to continue. They then see Elvino coming in the wood looking downcast and sad. He continues to reject Amina, even when the townspeople come in with the news that the count says that she is innocent. Elvino is not convinced and takes back the ring, though he is unable to tear her image from his heart: (Aria, then chorus: Ah! Perché non posso odiarti, infedel, com'io vorrei! / "Why cannot I despise you, faithless, as I should?")

Scene 2: The village, as in act 1

Lisa, Alessio, Elvino and the villagers are in the square. Elvino declares that he will renew his vows and proceed to marry Lisa. She is delighted. As they are about to go to the church, Rodolfo enters and tries to explain that Amina is innocent because she did not come to his room awake – she is a somnambulist, a sleepwalker: (Duet, first Elvino Signor Conte, agli occhi miei / negar fede non poss'io / "I cannot deny, my lord, what my eyes have seen"; then Rodolfo V'han certuni che dormendo / "Certain people when they sleep go about as if awake".) Elvino refuses to believe him and calls upon Lisa to leave, but at that moment Teresa begs the villagers to be quiet, because Amina has at last fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Learning of the impending marriage, Teresa confronts Lisa, who says that she has never been found alone in a man's room. Teresa produces the handkerchief Lisa had dropped. The Count is unwilling to say what he thinks of this, but continues to insist on Amina's virtue. Elvino demands proof and Rodolfo, seeing the sleeping Amina walking across the high, dangerously unstable mill bridge, warns that to wake her would be fatal. All watch as she relives her betrothal and her grief at Elvino's rejection, taking the withered flowers in her hand. (Aria: Amina Ah! non credea mirarti / sì presto estinto, o fiore / "I had not thought I would see you, dear flowers, perished so soon". Then as she reaches the other side safely, the distraught Elvino calls to her and she is taken into his arms. Rodolfo hands him the ring which he places on her finger, at which time she awakens and is amazed by what has happened. All rejoice. In an aria finale, Amina expresses her joy: Ah! non giunge uman pensiero / al contento ond'io son piena / "Human thought cannot conceive of the happiness that fills me".

Recordings
"Ah! non credea mirarti"
Act 2, sc. 2, sung by Adelina Patti in 1906
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Ah! non credea mirarti"
Act 2, sc. 2, sung by Anna Case in 1915
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Ah! non credea mirarti"
Act 2, sc. 2, sung by Francisca Pomar de Maristany in 1929
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Audio

Year Cast
(Amina, Elvino,
Rodolfo, Lisa,
Teresa)		 Conductor
Opera house and orchestra		 Label[16]
1952Lina Pagliughi,
Ferruccio Tagliavini,
Cesare Siepi,
Wanda Ruggeri,
Anna Maria Anelli		 Franco Capuana,
RAI Torino Orchestra and Chorus		 CD: Preiser Records
Cat: 20038
1955Maria Callas,
Cesare Valletti,
Giuseppe Modesti,
Eugenia Ratti,
Gabriella Carturan		 Leonard Bernstein,
La Scala Orchestra and Chorus
(Recording of a performance at La Scala, 5 March)		 DVD: EMI
Cat: CMS 5 67906-2
1957Maria Callas,
Nicola Monti,
Nicola Zaccaria,
Eugenia Ratti,
Fiorenza Cossotto		 Antonino Votto,
La Scala Orchestra and Chorus,
(Recording of a performance at the Edinburgh Festival, 21 August)		 CD: EMI Classics
Cat: B000002RXR
1962 Joan Sutherland,
Nicola Monti,
Fernando Corena,
Sylvia Stahlman,
Margreta Elkins		 Richard Bonynge,
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra and Chorus		 CD: Decca
Cat: 448 966-2; 455 823-2 (France)
1980 Joan Sutherland,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Nicolai Ghiaurov,
Isobel Buchanan,
Della Jones		 Richard Bonynge,
National Philharmonic Orchestra
London Opera Chorus		 CD: Decca
Cat: 417 424-2
1987 Jana Valášková,
Josef Kundlák,
Peter Mikuláš,
Eva Antolicová,
Ján Gallo		 Ondrej Lenárd,
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus		 CD: Opus
Cat: 9356 1928/29
1992 Ľuba Orgonášová,
Raúl Giménez,
Francesco Ellero d'Artegna,
Dilber Yunus
Alexandra Papadjiakou		 Alberto Zedda,
Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra
(Recording of a concert performance in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam)		 CD: Naxos
Cat: 8.660042/43
2006Natalie Dessay,
Francesco Meli,
Carlo Colombara,
Sara Mingardo,
Jael Azzaretti		 Evelino Pido,
Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra de Lyon		 CD: Virgin Classics
Cat: 3 95138 2
2008Cecilia Bartoli,
Juan Diego Flórez,
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo,
Gemma Bertagnolli,
Liliana Nikiteanu		 Alessandro De Marchi,
Orchestra La Scintilla		 CD: L'Oiseau-Lyre (Decca)
Cat: 478 1084

Video

Year Cast
(Amina, Elvino,
Rodolfo, Lisa,
Teresa)		 Conductor,
Opera house and orchestra		 Label[16]
1956Anna Moffo,
Danilo Vega,
Plinio Clabassi,
Gianna Galli,
Anna Maria Anelli		 Bruno Bartoletti
RAI Milano Orchestra and Chorus
Directed by Mario Lanfranchi
(Video recording of a black and white television film)		 DVD: Video Artists International
Cat: 4239
2004Eva Mei,
José Bros,
Giacomo Prestia,
Gemma Bertagnolli,
Nicoletta Curiel		 Daniel Oren
RAI Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Directed by Federico Tiezzi
(Video recording made at performances in January)		 DVD: TDK DVWW
Cat: 4239
2009Natalie Dessay,
Juan Diego Flórez,
Michele Pertussi,
Jennifer Black,
Jane Bunnell		 Evelino Pidò,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet.
Directed by Mary Zimmerman
(Video recording made at performances in March)		 DVD: Decca
Cat: B002Y5FKUE

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Weinstock 1971, p. 89
  2. ↑ Bellini to Vincenzo Ferlito [his uncle], April 1830, in Weinstock 1971, pp. 87–88
  3. ↑ Bellini to Vincenzo Ferlito [his uncle], late May/early June 1830, in Weinstock 1971, p. 88
  4. ↑ Weinstock 1971, pp. 93–94
  5. ↑ Bellini to his Venetian friend Giovanni Battista Peruchinni, 3 January 1831, in Weinstock 1971, p. 94
  6. ↑ Weinstock 1971, p. 94
  7. ↑ Eaton, p. 135
  8. ↑ Weinstock 1971, p. 95
  9. ↑ Glinka, Memoires, in Weinstock 1971, p. 97
  10. ↑ Kimbell 1994, in Holden, p. 50
  11. 1 2 "Performance data", in Weinstock 1971, pp. 327–332
  12. ↑ A.P.,"London Music": reviews, including La sonnambula, The Musical Times (London), Vol. 102, No. 1415, January 1961, p. 36 from jstor.org (by subscription)
  13. ↑ Notes in literature accompanying the Bartoli CD recording. Retrieved on 3 June 2010.
  14. ↑ Operabase list of performances given since 1 August 2012 on operabase.com
  15. ↑ worldcat.org (accessed 27 December 2011)
  16. 1 2 Recordings on La sonnambula on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

Cited sources

Other sources

External links

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