'La sonnambula' walks through the Liceu in a feminist key

BarcelonaConsidered one of the most difficult works of the operatic repertoire of all time and a symbol of bel canto, The sleepwalker, by Vincenzo Bellini, returns to the Gran Teatre del Liceu after eleven years. American soprano Nadine Sierra and Basque tenor Xabier Anduaga star in a new realistic version of the piece, directed by Bárbara Lluch, which focuses on the experiences of Amina. After its run at the Teatro Real in Madrid and the New National Theatre in Tokyo, the opera will be in Barcelona from April 22 to May 8, with an additional Under35 performance (for those under 35) on April 16, featuring soprano Caterina Sala and tenor Omar Mancini in the lead roles.

"I tend to empathize a lot with female characters, and when I imagined the world Amina lived in, I saw that it was a pretty harsh place," explains Lluch. In Bellini's story, the love between Amina and Elvino is cut short when she, a victim of sleepwalking, is accused of infidelity and cruelly judged by the townspeople. Based on the composer's original music and plot, Lluch reads the libretto from the protagonist's perspective to address current issues such as "bullying, toxic relationships, abuse, and domestic violence." "If you only listen to the bel canto of The sleepwalker and you don't study the libretto, it's easy to get carried away by its beauty and not understand what it's talking about," Lluch points out.

Accompanied by the musical direction of Lorenzo Passerini and the set design by Christof Daniel Hetzer, the stage director sets the story in a nocturnal, gothic space, where Amina struggles with her inner fears and the intolerance of the town. Clara Peluffo's costumes and Urs Schönebaum's lighting design reinforce the dreamlike, timeless, and chiaroscuro aesthetic of the production, which simulates the nightmare experienced by the protagonist. "I like to stage operas in places where they can resonate with the audience, and they can decide when and where we are," says Lluch. Dance also plays an important role in the show, as Amina's inner demons are represented by the dancers of the Metamorphosis Dance company, with choreography by Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich.

"Lsleepwalking It is the very essence of bel canto", Passerini notes. Inspired by a vaudeville by the Frenchman Eugène Scribe, the opera was a huge success in Italy and elsewhere, and cemented Bellini's status as one of the greats of his time. "I have a special relationship, because I live on Lake Como, which is where Bellini composed it, with the most perfect and difficult works of the composer's brief career, which demand high interpretative virtuosity. The sleepwalker, "full of contrasts" that fluctuate between peace and great energy, Passerini explains that absolute dedication is required from the entire team. For this reason, the director also praised the excellent work of the Liceu orchestra and choir.

Nadine Sierra, star of the season

The repertoire that Amina sings in The sleepwalker It is still considered one of the most complicated in history and is only within reach of the most brilliant voices. In this version, it is performed by American soprano Nadine Sierra, one of the best light voices today. "I am very excited about this project. When we did it in Madrid it was a success, and I think it could become historic at the Liceu." The singer returns to the Liceu after her success as Violetta Valéry in La Traviata, by Verdi, and her last solo concert. She will soon reprise her role as Maria from the musical West Side Story, in a concert by the Liceu Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Basque tenor Xavier Anduaga also performs a virtuoso role as Elvino, and the repertoire is completed by bass-baritone Fernando Radó, mezzo-soprano Carmen Artaza, and soprano Sabrina Gárdez.