The Opera People celebrate their 5th anniversary, 2023 season with a new production of Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula, the first ever opera by the 19th century early romantic master ever performed in Singapore. This production is directed by Edith Podesta and will be performed on 1 & 3 September at the Wild Rice Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre. The star ensemble cast features some of Singapore’s most prominent singers and the company continues its collaboration with Wayfarer Sinfonietta led by music director Lien Boon Hua.

The Opera People’s co-artistic director and company manager, Shridar Mani, says, “As we cross our 5th year, we feel that this production will mark how far the opera scene has come in the last decade. 10 years ago, it would not have been possible to present this work with an all local cast but today we don’t just have an entirely local cast and ensemble, but also two sopranos taking on the challenging title role of Amina. True to our style of connecting opera to contemporary issues, we are also working with our frequent collaborator, the brilliant Edith Podesta, to explore mental health, loss & grief, and the ways these two issues are tied into the relationship between self and community that are so intrinsic to this opera”.

In a luxury hotel, the staff gathers to celebrate the wedding of Amina and Elvino – she, an orphan raised by the hotel’s owner; he, a rich landowner. The celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of a visitor, Rodolfo, who isn’t all he claims to be. As the night unfolds, Rodolfo discovers that Amina has been hiding a secret condition. What ensues is the unravelling of the deep frictions that have been bubbling under the surface.

Directed by Edith Podesta and featuring a cast of Singapore’s finest singers including Renata Hann Sungwon and Felicia Teo Kaixin as Amina, Jonathan Charles Tay as Elvino, Phoebe Chee as Lisa, Shawn Liew as Rodolfo and Dennis Lau as Alessio. Together with Wayfarer Sinfonietta led by Lien Boon Hua, this bold new take on La Sonnambula is a masterful exploration of love, loss and community.

Says Jonathan Charles Tay, The Opera People’s co-artistic director who also takes on the equally challenging role of Elvino: “This is a work that we have been wanting to bring to Singapore audiences for some time. It is a wonderful ensemble work but also a showpiece for our singers and a great way for us to celebrate our 5th anniversary and our contributions over the past half-decade to growing the ecosystem for our local singers, which has been at the core of The Opera People’s mission.”

Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula plays on 1st and 3rd September 2023 at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre. Tickets available from SISTIC