La Sonnambula, a seminal bel canto opera by Vincenzo Bellini, tells the story of Amina, a sleepwalking village girl wrongly accused of infidelity. Its lyrical arias, like "Ah! non credea mirarti", showcase Bellini's melodic genius and the Romantic era's emphasis on emotional expression.
Franz Liszt's Fantaisie sur 'La sonnambula' is a brilliant piano transcription of themes from Vincenzo Bellini's 1831 opera. Composed between 1839-1842, it showcases Liszt's signature virtuosic style while preserving Bellini's bel canto melodies. The work incorporates five key themes from the opera, reimagining vocal lines into dazzling piano passages. This 1842 version represents Liszt's first exploration of these motifs, preceding his later arrangements.
La Sonnambula is a semiseria opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with a libretto by Felice Romani. It tells the story of Amina, a sleepwalker, whose nocturnal wanderings cause her fiancé Elvino to suspect her of infidelity. The opera is renowned for its beautiful bel canto melodies and was an immediate success at its premiere in 1831. The famous aria "Ah! non credea mirarti" is one of the most exquisite examples of Bellini's long, lyrical vocal lines.
