"Somnambula" is an Italian opera created for Russia

"Somnambula" is a play that returned to the 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 stunning beauty opera in just two months. But "Somnambula" is thoroughly imbued with author's worldview and is filled with Bellini's characteristic lyricism.

It will not be superfluous to say that "Somnambula" is an opera (the Bolshoi Theater makes an exception here), 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. For the work undertook 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, telling about the life of the Swiss village, which has remained popular for two centuries - all this is about the opera "Somnambula". The Bolshoi Theater (the reviews, it must be said, are 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 that is far from being a "fake" for Russian classics.

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

Spectators celebrate the extraordinary atmosphere that is forming in the play - it is a feeling of complete immersion in action. What happens on the stage is dynamic, bright and lively. All images are not just types or masks, they are vital. Scenery scenes deserve high praise, which fully correspond to the time and place of action.

The performers paid much attention to the costumes of the characters. On the one hand - this 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.

Separately, it should be said about the direct participants of the production. The musical director - Enrique Mazzola - has long been recognized as the director of the bel canto operas. And the party of Amina (the main character) is played by Laura Kleikomb - the star of the most famous world theaters. "Somnambula" - this is a special world, formed due to the scenery, costumes and great game and the voices of the actors. Each performer is a person, each voice speaks about something. There was a place for Russian voices, such as Nikolai Didenko and Oleg Tsybulko.

In general, somnambulists - this special state is akin to sleepwalking, in which a person commits any uncontrolled actions. The name of the opera completely corresponds to its content.