The Sleepwalker

work by Bellini

Also known as: “La sonnambula”

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July 13, 2026

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La sonnambula, or The Sleepwalker, is an opera semiseria (a serious opera with a happy ending) by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini. It premiered in 1831 and became very popular, even in England where an English version was produced. Bellini was known for his gift for creating vocal melodies that were pure in style and sensuous in expression. His operas, including La sonnambula, are closely associated with the bel canto style, which emphasizes vocal agility, smoothness, and long, ornate melodies. While Bellini's operas were influential, he did not significantly reform operatic style, instead striving for clarity, elegance, and a close union of words and music.12

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Vincenzo Bellini
…and Juliet; La sonnambula (1831; The Sleepwalker); and Norma (1831). La sonnambula, an opera semiseria (serious but with a happy ending), became very popular, even in England, where an English version appeared. Bellini’s masterpiece, Norma, a tragedy set in ancient Gaul, achieved lasting success despite an initial failure.
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…and Juliet; La sonnambula (1831; The Sleepwalker); and Norma (1831). La sonnambula, an opera semiseria (serious but with a happy ending), became very popular, even in England, where an English version appeared. Bellini’s masterpiece, Norma, a tragedy set in ancient Gaul, achieved lasting success despite an initial failure.
Read More