111284-85 bk Sonnambula EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:22 Page 8 CD 2 about the mysteries of sleep-walking. 7 Elvino is unwilling to believe what he is told, and the villagers Act 2 too find this incredible. Teresa now intervenes, with Lisa’s scarf, found in the Count’s bedroom. The BELLINI Scene 1 revelation of Lisa’s actions causes Elvino to let her 1 The scene is a wood. Some villagers come in, hand go. 8 The Count repeats his assurance of heading for the castle, where they hope to persuade the Amina’s innocence, while Elvino seeks proof. 9 At Count to defend Amina’s reputation, summoning up this moment Amina is seen, stepping from the mill La sonnambula their courage to speak to him. 2 Amina and Teresa window, in her sleep. She walks across the bridge over come onto the scene, as the others go, intent on the the mill-stream, in danger of her life, while they all same purpose, although Amina is affected by the place, watch her spellbound and terrified. Elvino is held back so near to Elvino’s farm. 3 He appears and he and from rushing to her by the Count. She walks along a IA CAL AR LA Amina speak together, Elvino still admant, she rotten beam by the side of the mill-wheel, still talking M S swearing her innocence. 4 Voices are heard praising of Elvino, the husband she fears she has lost, wishing the Count, who is coming to tell Elvino of Amina’s that she might see him again once more. She kneels, innocence. 5 Elvino cannot hate Amina, but is still praying for Elvino’s happiness, and looks at her hand, angry and takes from her the ring he had given her, as if searching for the ring that Elvino had given her. 0 leaving in despair, while Teresa and Amina go off in Taking from her breast flowers, withered after one day, another direction. she wonders that, like Elvino’s love, they have faded so soon. ! Elvino approaches her and puts the ring back Scene 2 on her finger. Amina asks her mother to embrace her, [Back in the village Alessio protests his love for Lisa, and the Count now signals to Teresa to approach and who still rejects him. He hopes to enlist the Count’s aid embrace her, while Elvino is prostrate at her feet. The in his cause, but now voices are heard welcoming Lisa outburst of the villagers wakes her and she asks where as Elvino’s bride, instead of Amina, to Lisa’s delight, she is. Elvino assures her that she is awake, not expressed in her gratitude for these good wishes.]6 In dreaming. @ In final rejoicing Amina finds that human a scene with Lisa, Elvino assures her of his love, thought cannot imagine her happiness, a happiness in seeking her pardon for deserting her. The Count arrives which all now join. in the nick of time, as Alessio observes, willing to guarantee Amina’s honesty. He goes on to explain Keith Anderson 1 g 957 Recordin Maria Callas • Nicola Monti Fiorenza Cossotto • Nicola Zaccaria Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Antonino Votto 8.111284-85 8 111284-85 bk Sonnambula EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:22 Page 2 Great Opera Recordings condemns her hypocrisy, when she talks of love Scene 2 ending in bitterness. The notary arrives. 8 The * The scene is a room in the inn, with a window at notary is followed by Elvino, delayed by a visit to his the back, a door at one side and on the other a closet, Vincenzo mother’s grave to seek a blessing on his wife. Now his with a small table and a sofa. The Count is alone and friends must witness the betrothal contract which the is later joined by Lisa. At first he expresses to himself BELLINI notary is preparing. Elvino offers her, as gifts to his his pleasure at staying in the village, and at the two (1801-1835) future bride, his farms and possessions, and she, in girls, Amina and his pretty inn-keeper, Lisa. To his return, offers her heart. 9 As Teresa and the annoyance, Lisa has recognised him as the Count and witnesses sign the contract, Elvino gives Amina a tells him that the villagers are gathering to pay him La sonnambula ring. 0 All, except Lisa, are happy at these events. ! proper respects. He goes on to joke with her, praising Opera in Two Acts Elvino tells Amina that the next morning they will be her beauty. A sound is heard and she runs into the married, but the sound of an approaching horse is other room, dropping her scarf. The Count throws it Libretto by Felice Romani heard and a stranger appears. @ Count Rodolfo, onto the sofa. ( Amina appears, entering the room accompanied by two servants, complains of the tiring slowly, sleep-walking. The Count now understands journey. Lisa tells him that he is still three miles away the nature of the ghost that haunts the village. Amina, Amina..............................................................................................................Maria Callas (soprano) from the castle and should spend the night at the in her sleep, calls on Elvino, worried in her dreams by village inn, which he claims he already knows, with his jealousy and assuring him of her love. The Count Teresa..........................................................................................Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo-soprano) the mill, the stream, the woods and the nearby farm. goes to shut the window, while Lisa, from the closet, Count Rodolfo .................................................................................................Nicola Zaccaria (bass) He remembers earlier days he had spent here, days oberves what is happening and, realising the chance Elvino .................................................................................................................Nicola Monti (tenor) now gone beyond recall. The villagers tell him of the she now has of discrediting her rival, slips away Lisa ................................................................................................................Eugenia Ratti (soprano) betrothal and he finds Amina lovely and attractive, unseen. ) The Count makes to run towards Amina, Alessio ..........................................................................................................Giuseppe Morresi (bass) remembering his own love of old. The villagers then stops. She dreams of her wedding and her A Notary........................................................................................................Franco Ricciardi (tenor) remark on this gallantry, less acceptable to Lisa and, beloved Elvino, tempting the Count’s resistance. She above all, to Elvino. # In answer to Elvino’s question raises her hand and swears faithfulness to her Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan the Count explains that he had been there before with husband. The Count is about to go, but hearing people (Chorus Master: Norberto Mola) the lord of the castle. Teresa recalls how the old lord, approach, leaves through the window, which he shuts. Antonino Votto who had died four years ago, once had a son, but he Amina lies on the sofa, still sleeping. ¡ The villagers had vanished. The Count tells her that the son is still approach and, finding the door of the room open, go Recorded 3rd – 9th March, 1957 in the Basilica di Santa Eufemia, Milan alive and promises that one day they shall all see him. in. They see a figure on the sofa and realise that this is ™ First issued on Columbia 33CX 1469 through 1471 The sound of a bagpipe is heard, calling the flocks in, not the Count but a woman. Now Teresa, Elvino and Teresa warns the villagers that night is drawing and Lisa come in, he refusing to believe what Lisa has in. $ This is the time, they all explain, when the told him and then horrified to see Amina lying there. Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn ghost appears, a figure in white, with long hair and She wakes, to be immediately rejected by Elvino, Special thanks to Maynard F. Bertolet for providing source material burning eyes. % The Count is sceptical but tells them turning for comfort to her mother. £ Amina is that the time will come when such phantoms will no innocent in thought and word, as she assures him, but longer be seen, but now he will rest, and he goes with no-one will believe her, except Teresa, who picks up Lisa into the inn, after bidding Amina farewell. ^ Lisa’s scarf and puts it round Amina’s throat, thinking Amina and Elvino are left alone, and he is about to it is hers. ¢ Elvino tells her that there will be no leave her without saying goodbye. He is annoyed at wedding and Amina is distressed at his distrust of her, the attention she has received from the stranger, but declaring her innocence, while he reproaches her begs her pardon. & He explains that he is jealous faithless heart. As the others go, Amina falls into the even of the breeze that stirs her hair. They are arms of Teresa. reconciled, banishing any doubts, and promising to think and dream of each other until the morning. 8.111284-85 27 8.111284-85 111284-85 bk Sonnambula EU.qxd 2/11/08 13:22 Page 6 Cherubini’s Médée. Her career took her to major opera rôles such as Zaccaria in Nabucco, Silva in Ernani, CD 1 77:40 # Contezza del paese 3:17 houses throughout the world, with effective Rodolfo in La sonnambula and Sarastro in Zauberflöte. (Elvino, Rodolfo, Teresa, Chorus) performances in rôles that included those of Azucena, For EMI he appears with Callas in recordings of Aida, Act 1 Amneris, Eboli and Adalgisa. Un ballo in maschera, Il trovatore, La bohème, Il Scene 1 $ A fosco cielo, a notte bruna 3:57 Nicola Monti (b.1920) made his début in Florence barbiere di Siviglia, La sonnambula and Norma. 1 Viva! Viva Amina! 2:49 (Chorus, Rodolfo, Teresa, Amina, Elvino) in 1941, but his operatic début took place only in 1951 Born at Piacenza, Antonino Votto (1896-1985) (Chorus) at the San Carlo in Naples, when he appeared as Elvino was a student at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella, % Basta così.