VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert celebrates Valentine’s Day on Saturday, February 14, with Bellini’s sublime masterpiece from the ‘bel canto’ era, La Sonnambula, libretto by Felice Romani. The work premiered at Teatro Carcano in Milan on March 6, 1831, and cemented Bellini’s reputation as an opera composer of a new order, concerned that the melody should be firmly wedded to the text and that music should reflect character. This insistence has ensured that all his operas remain in the repertoire, while many of his contemporaries’ works have faded from view.

VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert is noted for its promotion of emerging Canadian artists in leading roles, serving as a stepping stone in their pursuit of important careers. Leading the way as the ‘sleepwalker’ of the title is debuting soprano Diana Rockwell. Ms. Rockwell hails from Yellowknife and is now pursuing her master’s in music at the University of Manitoba, studying with Tracy Dahl. She is a 2024 Rose Bowl Winner in Winnipeg and won First Prize in the 2023 CFMTA National Vocal Competition. Her beloved Elvino will be sung by tenor Jeremy Scinocca, who has been heard with Manitoba Opera, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, for Opera in Concert as Ruggero in La Rondine and as a member of the Yulanda Faris Young Artist Program at the Vancouver Opera. Their co-stars include Minerva Lobato as Lisa, Julia Renda as Teresa and Austin Larusson as Count Rodolfo, all led by Narmina Afandiyeva as pianist and music director. Robert Cooper, C.M., directs the esteemed Opera in Concert Chorus.

La Sonnambula belongs to the opera semi-seria genre, which also includes Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix and Rossini’s La gazza ladra. These works are characterized by pastoral settings, eschewing the high drama and tragedy that are to be found in opera seria. Their plots have elements of comedy leavened by pathos, and a happy ending is assured with a final chorus of ‘general rejoicing’. Deceit, misunderstanding, mysterious sleepwalking scenes and last-minute revelations are sublimely interwoven in Bellini’s score. “Coming full circle,” says OIC’s Guillermo Silva-Marin, “we are delighted to return to Bellini’s great work, which featured Tracy Dahl as Amina in our 1996 performances and now will be a showcase for one of her most promising students, Diana Rockwell.”

Tickets are available through RCM Tickets by calling 416-408-0208, visiting www.rcmusic.com  or visiting in person at 273 Bloor Street West.

For more details, please visit www.operainconcert.com.