Venue:National Centre for the Performing Arts - Theatre

Dates:August 28-September 02, 2018

About

Throughout his life, Bellini has composed 11 operas with La Sonnambula, Norma and I Puritani as the most representative ones.

Bellini’s operas fall into two categories, which are either heroic, such as Rossini’s William Tell; or patriotic, such as Norma and I Puritani. His lyric works were full of illusions influenced by romantic ideology, including La Sonnambula. His works are broad with long melodies that connoted grieving. The arch-shaped music line and gorgeous coloratura lyrics contain intrinsic motivation, which links music closely with the opera, highlighting the characters’ characteristics. The famous arias - Ah, non credea mirarti and Ah! non giunge uman pensiero stand as paragons of “Bellini’s vocal melody.” With such exquisite, long melody, flexible coloratura singing have depicted the heroine Amina’s sad heart, alongside her youth and innocence as a maiden.

La Sonnambula is a second opera by Bellini produced by the NCPA after Norma, which is produced by the same creative team that gave us Der Rosenkavalier at the NCPA’s invitation, featuring director Gilbert Deflo, set designer Alessandro Camera and costume designer Carla Ricotti. Conductor Daniel Oren, who is especially talented at conducting Italian operas, will take the baton, joined by influential singers from at home and abroad.

Composer: Vincenzo Bellini

Librettist: Felice Romani

World Premiere: March 6th, 1831 at Teatro Carcano

Credits

Conductor: Daniel Oren

Director: Gilbert Deflo

Set Designer: Alessandro Camera

Costume Designer: Carla Ricotti

Lighting Designer: Vinicio Cheli

Choreographer: Alessandra Panzavolta

Chorus Master: Marco Bellei

Cast

Amina (soprano): Dilber/Rosa Feola

Elvino (tenor): Antonino Siragusa/Anton Rositskiy

Il Conte Rodolfo (baritone): ZHANG Wenwei/Mirco Palazzi

Lisa (soprano): LI Xintong/LIU Lian

Teresa (mezzo-soprano): YANG Yanting

Alessio (baritone): WANG Meng

Un Notaio (tenor): KOU Jing (NCPA Chorus member)

Synopsis

In a Swiss village of the 19th century, beautiful girl Amina is engaged to the young farmer Elvino, making hostess Lisa so sad that she turns back on Alessio, who carries a torch for her.

On the eve of the wedding, a stranger arrives. He is Ⅱ Conte Rodolfo and checks in at Lisa’s inn. Hearing that Ⅱ Conte Rodolfo is the new lord of their village, Lisa comes to his room late at night to flirt with him. But Amina is sleepwalking and bursts into the room. Lisa hides away quickly, and Rodolfo leaves the room to avoid a fuss. Lisa, however, takes Elvino to Rodolfo's room, where Amina wakes up, and Elvino calls off the wedding in rage. Although Rodolfo speaks for Amina’s innocence, Elvino remains unmoved and decides to marry Lisa. Rodolfo explains to Elvino and villagers that Amina is a sleepwalker, but none of them believe him. Suddenly, Amina begins to sleepwalk again and all those present, holding their breath, don’t arouse her from sleep until she arrives at a safe place. As a result, Elvino agrees to marry her yet again.

Creative

Daniel Oren(Conductor)

Gilbert Deflo(Director)

Alessandro Camera(Set Designer)

Carla Ricotti(Costume Designer)

Vinicio Cheli(Lighting Designer)

Artist

Dilber as Amina

Rosa Feola as Amina

Antonino Siragusa as Elvino

Anton Rositskiy as Elvino

ZHANG Wenwei as Ⅱ Conte Rodolfo

Mirco Palazzi as Ⅱ Conte Rodolfo

LIU Lian as Lisa

LI Xintong as Lisa

YANG Yanting as Teresa

WANG Meng as Alessio

KOU Jing as Un Notaio