Calendar

La Sonnambula

Vincenzo Bellini

La Sonnambula is one of the most beautiful lyrical pages of Italian Romanticism. The young South African soprano Pretty Yende, a rising star of her generation, is set to shine in this opera.

La Somnambule
La Somnambule © Vincent Pontet
La Somnambule
La Somnambule © Vincent Pontet
La Somnambule
La Somnambule © Vincent Pontet

Riccardo Frizza | direction
Rolando Villazón | staging 
Johannes Leiacker | sets
Philippe Giraudeau | choreography 
Brigitte Reiffenstuel | costumes
Davy Cunningham | lights

Pretty Yende | Amina
Alexander Tsymbalyuk | Rodolfo
Francesco Demuro | Elvino
Annunziata Vestri | Teresa
Sandra Hamaoui | Lisa
Marc Scoffoni | Alessio

Orchestre de chambre de Paris
Chœur de Radio France | direction Sylvie Leroy
Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine | direction Gaël Darchen

Sung in Italian, with French and English subtitles

La Sonnanbula, created a few months before Norma, was a considerable success throughout the 19th century. The theme of sleepwalking fascinated the Romantic period, which was eager for mysterious phenomena. Here Bellini explored all the musical possibilities that could convey the complex moods of his heroine, the innocent victim of an unknown evil. The opera features some of the most beautiful soprano arias from the bel canto repertoire. Thus it is to Amina that the large, ample and colourful arias are destined, requiring special qualities from her singer: crystal-clear and luminous highs, long and supple breathing without forgetting a great deal of agility in the singing. A lineage of prestigious singers has shone here, from the creator of the role, Giuditta Pasta, to the Malibran and Callas and, closer to France, Natalie Dessay. The young south african Pretty Yende should in her turn skillfully interpret the expressive range of the character against Francesco Demuro's Elviro. A couple and a cast that will be able to count on the experience of Rolando Villazón, who is directing his first production in Paris. The Italian conductor, Riccardo Frizza, will be conducting the Orchestre de chambre de Paris, an ensemble that has already proven itself in this belcantist repertoire.

NEW PRODUCTION
COPRODUCTION Théâtre des Champs-Elysées / Semperoper Dresden / Metropolitan Opera / Opéra de Nice Côte d’Azur 
France Musique broadcasts this opera.
En partenariat avec france.tv

You may also like

La Folle Soirée de l’Opéra

The most beautiful opera arias by the most beautiful voices

Another Folle Soirée event devoted to opera organised by Radio Classique.

La Belle Hélène

Jacques Offenbach

Ending the season on a high note, with an opera-buffa and Offenbach's gem: a great way to ease into the summer break.

La Fille de Madame Angot

Charles Lecocq

Lecocq’s Madame Angot was a triumph when it was created, then it was forgotten. A talented team of French singers is putting her back in the spotlight with great enthusiasm.