Bellini's NORMA at the Met - October 10th to November 1st 2013

The Metropolitan Opera – Bellini’s Norma [Sondra Radvanovsky, Aleksandrs Antonenko, James Morris; directed by John Copley]
Only the greatest of sopranos are up to the challenge of Bellini’s crowd-pleaser of bel canto fireworks, which is why Sondra Radvanovsky, followed by Angela Meade, is cast in the title role. Mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich is Adalgisa and tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko is Pollione. Riccardo Frizza conducts.
"Ponselle, Milanov, Callas, Sutherland... after last night Radvanovksy can add her name to the list" (Huffington Post).
Radvanovsky “earned a thunderous ovation… She rose to [the title role's] considerable challenges… She wielded her full-bodied dramatic soprano… to potent effect… her top notes ringing and powerful, her middle range velvety, her coloratura nimble and phrasing elegant. Her dynamic control was striking, with alluring pianissimos that contrasted with the passion of her singing at its most vigorous" (New York Times).
"Sondra Radvanovsky proves equal to the monstrously challenging title role… Her voice is big and lustrous, exceptionally bright at the top, darker at deeper depths. She commands a vast range of notes and a broad range of dynamics" (Financial Times).
Aleksandrs Antonenko "sang with ardent, emotive conviction" (New York Times).
Riccardo Frizza "conducted a crisp, lithe and elegantly shaped rendition"
(New York Times).

Synopsis

Norma

ACT I. Gaul, 50 BCE, during the Roman occupation. In a forest at night, the priest Oroveso leads the Druids in a prayer for revenge against the conquering Romans. After they have left, the Roman proconsul Pollione admits to his friend Flavio that he no longer loves the high priestess Norma, Oroveso’s daughter, with whom he has two children. He has fallen in love with a young novice priestess, Adalgisa, who returns his love (“Meco all’altar di Venere”). Flavio warns him against Norma’s anger. The Druids assemble and Norma prays to the moon goddess for peace (“Casta diva”). She tells her people that as soon as the moment for their uprising against the conquerors arrives, she herself will lead the revolt. At the same time, she realizes that she could never harm Pollione. When the grove is deserted, Adalgisa appears and asks for strength to resist Pollione. He finds her crying and urges her to flee with him to Rome. She agrees to renounce her vows (Duet: “Vieni in Roma, ah! vieni, o cara”).
Norma tells her confidante Clotilde that Pollione has been recalled to Rome. She is afraid that he will desert her and their children. Adalgisa confesses to Norma that she has a lover (Duet: “Sola, furtiva, al tempio”). Recalling the beginning of her own love affair, Norma is about to release Adalgisa from her vows and asks for the name of her lover. As Pollione appears, Adalgisa answers truthfully. Norma’s kindness turns to fury. She tells Adalgisa about her own betrayal by the Roman soldier. Pollione confesses his love for Adalgisa and asks her again to come away with him, but she refuses and vows she would rather die than steal him from Norma (Trio: “Oh! Di qual sei tu vittima”).
ACT II. Norma, dagger in hand, tries to bring herself to murder her children in their sleep to protect them from living disgracefully without a father (“Teneri, teneri figli”). She changes her mind and summons Adalgisa, advising her to marry Pollione and take the children to Rome. Adalgisa refuses: she will go to Pollione, but only to persuade him to return to Norma. Overcome by emotion, Norma embraces her, and the women reaffirm their friendship (Duet: “Mira, o Norma”).
The Druids assemble at their altar to hear Oroveso’s announcement that a new commander will replace Pollione. Oroveso rages against the Roman oppression, but tells the Druids that they must be patient to ensure the success of the eventual revolt (“Ah! del Tebro al giogo indegno”).
Norma is stunned to hear from Clotilde that Adalgisa’s pleas have not persuaded Pollione, and in a rage she urges her people to attack the conquerors. Oroveso demands a sacrificial victim, and just then Pollione is brought in, having profaned the sanctuary. Alone with him, Norma promises him his freedom if he will leave Adalgisa and return to her (Duet: “In mia man alfin tu sei”). When he refuses, Norma threatens to kill him and their children, and to punish Adalgisa. She calls in the Druids and tells them that a guilty priestess must die, then confesses that she is referring to herself. Moved by her nobility, Pollione asks to share her fate. Norma begs Oroveso to watch over her children, then leads her lover to the pyre.