Opera in two acts
Libretto by FELICE ROMANI Music by Bellini (sung in Italian)
Amina, betrothed to Elvino, causes a scandal by sleepwalking into the bedroom of the local Count on the eve of her wedding.
Villagers
VIENNA STATE OPERA CHORUS chorus-master RUDOLF SCHRAMEK VIENNA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA conducted by NINO SANZOGNO
(Recording from this year's Bregenz Festival made available by Austrian Radio)
The action takes place in Switzerland at the beginning of the 19th century.
Act 1 Sc 1: The village green; Sc 2: A bedroom at the inn
9.5* It was nearly ' Ernani 11
CHARLES OSBORNE describes how Bellini nearly didn'write La Sonnambula at all, and what happened when he did.
The readings from contemporary sources are by JOHN ROWE , ROLF LEFEBVRE , KATHERINE PARR
9.25* La Sonnambula
Act 2 Sc 1: A shady valley between the village and the castle; Sc 2: The village near Teresa's mill