"Somnambula" is an Italian opera created for Russia

"Somnambula" is a performance that returned toThe Bolshoi Theater after more than a century of oblivion. Bellini - the author of the opera - created it back in 1831, but in Moscow it was last heard in 1891.

The author created this amazingly beautiful opera in just two months. But "La Somnambula" is thoroughly imbued with the author's worldview and is filled with characteristic Bellini lyricism.

It will not be superfluous to say that "Somnambula"- opera (the Bolshoi Theater here makes an exception), rarely appearing on the stages of Russian theaters. This year, in March, the opera premiered. The founders of the theater did not take risks, entrusting the production to the Russian director. The work was undertaken by the compatriot of the author - Pier Luigi Pizzi. As actors, foreign artists were invited who coped with the tasks assigned to them with ease and skill.

A wonderful melodrama about lifeSwiss village, which remained popular for two centuries - all this about the opera "Somnambula". The Bolshoi Theater (reviews, it must be said, exceptionally flattering) are making a "daring" attempt, more precisely, the director Pierre Luigi Pizzi. The action of the melodrama is transferred to the Russian village: this move, according to the director, should make the opera more attractive to the Russian audience. The heroines of the opera resemble the heroines of Turgenev and Ostrovsky. Every educated, literary-savvy person has such associations. But these associations do not interfere with perceiving Somnambula as an exclusively original work. "Somnambula" is a creation far from being a "fake" for Russian classics.

At the beginning of the opera, the viewer is immersed in the atmosphereRussian village, he becomes a witness to a peasant wedding. At the same time, there is a rumor about the appearance of a ghost in the village, and a mysterious stranger also appears in the village.

Spectators celebrate the extraordinary atmosphereforming on a performance is a feeling of complete immersion in action. What is happening on stage is dynamic, bright and lively. All images are not just types or masks, they are vital. The scenery, which fully corresponds to the time and place of action, also deserves high appreciation.

Producers paid much attention to costumescharacters. On the one hand, it is the traditional clothing of that era. On the other hand, each costume is special, created for a specific hero. The costumes of the characters reflect the character and inner world of the character.

Отдельно нужно сказать о непосредственных participants of the play. The musical director, Enrique Mazzola, has long been recognized as the director of bel canto operas. And the role of Amina (the main character) is performed by Laura Claycomb - the star of the most famous world theaters.

"Somnambula" is a special world formedthanks to the scenery, costumes and great game and voice of actors. Every performer is a personality, every voice speaks about something. There was a place for Russian voices, such as Nikolay Didenko and Oleg Tsybulko.

In general, a somnambulist is a special state akin to sleepwalking, in which a person performs some uncontrollable actions. The name of the opera is fully consistent with its content.