La sonnambula (Bellini)

Overview

La sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) is an opera semiseria in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini to a libretto by Felice Romani, premiered at the Teatro Carcano, Milan, on 6 March 1831 (Wikipedia, "La sonnambula"). Amina, a village girl, is found asleep in the Count's room; her fiancé Elvino rejects her until she is seen walking in her sleep over a mill-bridge. It is a staple of bel canto soprano repertoire ("Ah! non credea mirarti").

Marie and this work

• 7 February 1873, Nice. The evening at the Cercle de la Méditerranée given by the Vicomtesse Vigier (the former opera star Sophie Cruvelli): "La somnabule de Bellini" (001.0096). Marie describes her rose décolleté dress and high coiffure; it is not clear whether the Vicomtesse sings or whether scenes are performed; the diary says "soirée donnée par la vicomtesse Vigier".
• 5 January 1875, Nice. She reserves a box at the Théâtre-Italien for Saturday: "Bellour chante La Somnambule" (028.0168). RSR note: Bellour is a tenor of the Nice Italian company.
• 9 January 1875. "Grande représentation aux Italiens, La Somnambule" in the third box of the bel étage on the right (028.0195).
• 16 February 1875. She says she was at the Opéra the previous evening for "La Somnambule" and was bored (029.0345).

Sources

• Wikipedia, "La sonnambula".
• IMSLP, La sonnambula (Bellini, Vincenzo)).