25 Feb 2012: We went to the Theatre Royal to see the opera Norma by Bellini.
I have a mixed reaction to it. The music is wonderful, I am told it's a fine example of Bel Canto (very elaborate singing) and it was certainly that - it was amazing to hear the sounds that Norma was able to produce, and I recommend anybody to do some research on YouTube to see examples of Callas or Sutherland performing Casta Diva, the greatest song of the opera.
We felt that the story was lousy, or perhaps it didn't come across well to us in the production. The idea that the high priestess would have had a long love affair with the Roman pro-consul and have two boy children and nobody would know of this secret (while she is busy declaring war on the Romans) seemed absurd. The entire plot hinge on the fact that the roman was a serial seducer who should have had his arse kicked very early on. Of course, without plots like these, opera would not exist, I have often felt this about opera - Rigoletto is another example of lousy plots. I suppose it was thought in late 18th and early 19th century that you could fall in love with a mere glance, but the idea that this could lead to such major tragedy just annoys modern people.
Still.... wonderful music!
The soprano, Annemarie Kremer, in the Opera North production was quite brilliant, but for the ultimate, see the video on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2L_B7VOWs
See some clips of the opera North production with an interview with Annemarie. She is Dutch, and the whole opera is sung in the original Italian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1A1OojEcqc
Looking at these clips, I appreciate it more, and enjoy the acting and music and worry less about the story!
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| Picture of Norma from Opera North website |
We felt that the story was lousy, or perhaps it didn't come across well to us in the production. The idea that the high priestess would have had a long love affair with the Roman pro-consul and have two boy children and nobody would know of this secret (while she is busy declaring war on the Romans) seemed absurd. The entire plot hinge on the fact that the roman was a serial seducer who should have had his arse kicked very early on. Of course, without plots like these, opera would not exist, I have often felt this about opera - Rigoletto is another example of lousy plots. I suppose it was thought in late 18th and early 19th century that you could fall in love with a mere glance, but the idea that this could lead to such major tragedy just annoys modern people.
Still.... wonderful music!
The soprano, Annemarie Kremer, in the Opera North production was quite brilliant, but for the ultimate, see the video on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2L_B7VOWs
See some clips of the opera North production with an interview with Annemarie. She is Dutch, and the whole opera is sung in the original Italian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1A1OojEcqc
Looking at these clips, I appreciate it more, and enjoy the acting and music and worry less about the story!
