RENATA SCOTTO AWAKENS LA SONNAMBULA FROM ITS SLUMBER
Star Makes Her Michigan Opera Theatre Debut Directing All-New Production

BY REBEKAH JOHNSON

Renata Scotto has performed many roles in her lifetime — and not just the hundred or so operatic roles to her credit. She is a visionary and now director for a brand new production of La Sonnambula, Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece. As a living legend in the opera world, Scotto had performed in Metropolitan Opera tours to Detroit, but had never performed or directed with Michigan Opera Theatre before. To be certain, it is an opportune time for Renata Scotto to do what she does best at MOT. Who is a better candidate to transform a Bellini classic than the woman who helped define the lead role herself?

Renata Scotto got her start in singing early. By the time most of today’s teenagers are going off to college, Scotto had already made her operatic debut, and by 19 she was singing at La Scala, one of the world’s most famous opera houses in Milan. In 1976, she moved from Milan to New York City, where she met and married Lorenzo Anselmi. Soon, Scotto was the ultimate working mom, with a demanding career and busy family at home. “I had two lives: a Prima Donna on stage, because of the leading roles. I loved what I did with acting and singing. But when the curtain came down, I was a woman, a mother, a wife. I sacrificed a lot of social events because I was more interested in my private life, my children. I enjoyed every second.”

A hugely successful opera star with frequent engagements at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Scotto performed in over 120 operas, but Amina, the lead soprano role in La Sonnambula, always held something special for her. In her own way, Scotto could relate to Amina and at the same time desire to be like her. “If I had to identify with [Amina], I’d like to be like her,” says Scotto. “She’s simple, she’s good, she’s full of love and very respectful.” Her famous interpretation of Amina was enjoyed by audiences throughout the world, including those at Covent Garden, La Scala, and every opera house in Italy.

Undoubtedly, it was the charm of Bellini that had taken hold of her artistic sentiments. “For me, Bellini is special. Bellini’s operas — you really have to study hard to get into the character. There is a lot of emotion inside the music, but it’s simple at the same time. It is beautiful, romantic and simple. It goes right to the heart of people,” says Scotto.

Vincenzo Bellini’s career as a composer made him the quintessential composer of bel canto opera, a type of elegant Italian opera requiring highly trained singers. Bellini’s romantic approach to sound took shape in La Sonnambula, one of his last and [continued...]

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3