Leyla Gencer Archive

LA SONNAMBULA

Vincenzo Bellini (1801 - 1835)

Opera in two acts in Italian
Libretto: Felice Romani
Premièr at Teatro Carcano, Milan – 6 March 1831

08 March 1959

Teatro San Carlo, Napoli

Conductor: Pasquale de Angelis
Chorus master: Michele Lauro
Stage director: Enrico Colosimo

Scene and costumes: L. Nedomansky

Count Rodolpho lord of the castle FERRUCIO MAZZOLI bass

Teresa proprietress of the mill n/a mezzo-soprano

Amina her foster-daugther LEYLA GENCER soprano [Role debut]

Lisa proprietress of the village inn n/a soprano

Elvino a young farmer AGOSTINO LAZZARI tenor

Alessio a villager n/a bass

Time: Early Nineteenth Century
Place: A Village in Switzerland

Photos © FOTO TRONCONE, Napoli

Note: Journalist Franca Cella mentioned that Gencer sung La Sonnambula at Teatro San Carlo di Napoli in 1958 and in 1959, but I couldn't reach any details of 1958 performances.

(……………) Amina’s final aria from Bellini’s “La Sonnambula”, is next; Leyla Gencer had performed it only at the San Carlo in Naples in March 1958 and again the following season. That rare pearl is preserved in this unique recording. (………………………)