Sleepwalking Tragedy Inspired Bellini Opera

1914

TRAGIC SLEEPWALKING.

Incident Upon Which Bellini Based His Celebrated Opera.

Somnambulists can maintain their footing in the most perilous places so long as they remain in a state of somnambulism, but if suddenly awakened they instantly lose their self possession and balance.

On one occasion a young woman living in Dresden was seen at midnight walking on the edge of the roof of her house. Her family were immediately told of her plight, but were afraid to go near her. The neighbors gathered about the house and placed mattresses and blankets along the street in hopes that they might save her in case she fell.

She danced for over an hour on the slanting roof, apparently retaining in balance without difficulty, and every now and then she would advance to the edge and bow to the silent crowd standing many feet below her.

At last she climbed down on to the wide gutter which ran in front of the window through which she had come, with the evident intention of re-entering the house. The crowd watching her so intently drew a sigh of relief. But, unfortunately, her terrified relatives, thinking to assist her, had placed two lighted candles in the room near the window, and as she approached the light fell directly in her eyes.

Instantly the shock awakened her. and she swayed back and forth in her perilous position: then, with a frightful scream, she fell headlong to the ground. She was fatally hurt and died in a few hours. It was on this tragedy that Bellini wrote his celebrated opera "La Sonnambula."