Name: Norma
Start: 2016-09-12T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Royal Opera House

Admin

Organization

Soprano

Sonya Yoncheva

Norma

Tenor

Joseph Calleja

Pollione

Sonia Ganassi

Adalgisa

Bass

Brindley Sherratt

Oroveso

David Junghoon Kim

Flavio

Vlada Borovko

Clotilde

Conductor

Antonio Pappano

Stage director

Alex Ollé

Valentina Carrasco

Costume designer

Lluc Castells

Set designer

Alfons Flores

Lighting designer

Marco Filibeck

Royal Opera House

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Others

Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Italian

London

United Kingdom

The title character in Bellini's Norma is a druid high priestess, torn between her religious vows of chastity and her love for the Roman official Pollione, with whom she has had two children. Out of this conflict comes some of the most famous music in the whole bel canto repertoire, including the ravishingly beautiful "Casta Diva." The extremely difficult lead role calls for a truly special soprano—and in this Covent Garden production, the sublime Sonya Yoncheva captivates from start to finish, backed by an extraordinary supporting cast that includes the acclaimed Sonia Ganassi as Norma's amorous rival Adalgisa and Joseph Calleja as Pollione.

Directed with characteristically eye-popping flair by Àlex Ollé (of the provocative and marvelously inventive Spanish theatre group La Fura dels Baus) and soundtracked by the world-class Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus of Covent Garden, this "striking production and terrifically enjoyable evening" (Bachtrack) is a Norma for the ages.

Norma Bellini

Public

English

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading