Bellini’s bel canto classic “La Sonnambula” opens The Met’s 19th Live in HD Season
The Metropolitan Opera is kicking off the 19th season of its renowned The Met: Live in HD transmissions, which can also be seen in selected cinemas and cultural institutions in Poland. From autumn 2025 through late spring 2026, the New York stage will present eight exceptional productions as part of the series – both beloved classics and exciting new stagings. Audiences will have the opportunity to admire world-class opera stars as well as the work of acclaimed directors, conductors, and set or costume designers. The season will open on October 18, 2025, with a transmission of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula.” This will mark the 84th performance of the opera in the history of the Metropolitan Opera, and its second broadcast in the history of The Met: Live in HD. It is also the first new production of Bellini’s masterpiece since 2009.
“La Sonnambula” is one of the most beautiful bel canto operas, which premiered in 1831 at Milan’s Teatro Carcano. The story follows Amina, an orphan who, sleepwalking, is mistaken for being unfaithful, leading her fiancé Elvino to break off their engagement. When it becomes clear that her behavior was the result of sleepwalking, the misunderstanding is resolved, and the story ends happily. In the title role will be Nadine Sierra, beloved by The Met: Live in HD audiences for her performances in “Romeo and Juliet,” “La Traviata” and “Lucia di Lammermoor.” She will be joined by Xabier Anduaga as Elvino, an outstanding tenor making his Live in HD debut.
The new production is staged by Roland Villazón, the celebrated tenor making his Metropolitan Opera debut as a director. Villazón’s vision transports audiences to the heart of the Swiss Alps, blending the story of love and loss with poetic, dreamlike imagery. Riccardo Frizza will conduct, and the cast also includes Sydney Mancasola (Lisa) and Alexander Vinogradov (Count Rodolfo). Rhiannon Giddens, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, will host the evening – inviting viewers backstage during intermissions and engaging with the creative team.
Upcoming cinema screenings include:
- Puccini’s “La Bohème” (November 8, 2025)
- R. Strauss’ “Arabella” (November 22, 2025)
- Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” (December 13, 2025)
- Bellini’s “I Puritani” (January 10, 2026)
- Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” (March 21, 2026)
- Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” (May 2, 2026)
- Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Último Sueño de Frida y Diego” (May 30, 2026)
A full list of cinemas, theaters, opera houses, and philharmonics hosting the transmissions can be found here.