SONNAMBULA, LA

In his directorial debut at the Met, Rolando Villazón presents a vibrant production of Bellini's poignant tale of love lost and found, starring coloratura soprano Nadine Sierra and the rising Spanish tenor star Xabier Anduaga.

At the height of her career, Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire as Amina, who sleepwalks her way into audiences’ hearts in Bellini’s romantic opera. In his new production, Rolando Villazón – the tenor who has embarked on a brilliant second career as a director – retains the opera’s original setting in the Swiss Alps but uses its somnambulant plot to explore the emotional and psychological valleys of the mind. Tenor Xabier Anduaga co-stars as Amina’s fiancé, Elvino, alongside soprano Sydney Mancasola as her rival, Lisa, and bass Alexander Vinogradov as Count Rodolfo. Riccardo Frizza takes the podium for one of opera’s most ravishing works.

“This “La Sonnambula” would have been worth cheering for the singing alone. But in Villazón’s staging, Bellini’s pastoral fantasy reveals unexpected riches.” - The New York Times

"This new production is vivid and compelling for two reasons. One is to see and hear soprano Nadine Sierra in the bravura role as Amina. The other is to see what opera tenor Rolando Villazón has put on stage for his directorial debut at the Met. And a superb Sierra and brilliant Villazón make a fantastic pair." - New York Classical Review