Bellini's music is characterized by its lyrical qualities, closely tied to the text, and avoids excessive vocal display for its own sake.
Performer Biography
The conductor Alberto Zedda is an Italian musicologist known for his work in Italian opera, particularly focusing on performance practice in the works of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.
Composition History
Bellini's opera "La Sonnambula" was an immediate success, finding its way to London and Paris in the same year as its premiere.
Composer Biography
Vincenzo Bellini, the composer of this opera, was born in Catania in 1801 into a family of musicians and began composing church music at the age of six.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bellini achieved his greatest successes in collaboration with librettist Felice Romani, always emphasizing the importance of words and insisting on revisions to the libretto.
Recording & Production
The Netherlands Radio Choir, with 79 singers, is the largest professional choir in the Netherlands, performing a varied repertoire including opera and major choral works.
Composition History
The original intention for "La Sonnambula" was a collaboration on a version of Victor Hugo's play "Hernani," but official censorship led Bellini to choose the subject of "La Sonnambula" instead.
