Opera Vincenzo Bellini "Somnambula" melodrama in two acts (concert performance) World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera Theatre - Opera and Concert Hall
Schedule for Vincenzo Bellini "Somnambula" melodrama in two acts (concert performance) 2022
Composer: Vincenzo Bellini Soprano: Olga Pudova Mezzo soprano: Regina Rustamova Choir: The Mariinsky Academy of Young Opera Singers
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Opera in 2 acts
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto by Felice Romani
Performed by soloists of the Mariinsky Academy of Young Opera Singers
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
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".
Schedule for Vincenzo Bellini "Somnambula" melodrama in two acts (concert performance) 2022
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