Friday, May 7, 2010

Norma

Caught Norma for the first time last night.


At the Teatro Avenido, a very nice old theater. I was off to the side in the third ring (la tertulia), which had decent views and very good sound, for a reasonable $36 or so.


Turns our, I shouldn't have waited so long. Norma's a terrific opera, including 12 minutes or so in the first act that are about as close to pure opera bliss as I can remember (the famous aria Casta Diva, which really is lovely, segues into an equally compelling passage.) But the whole show was remarkably engaging and vibrant. The singers, especially Norma (Soledad de la Rosa) and Adalgisa (Guadalupe Barrientos), were excellent. Sure, the story's a bit silly, but hey, it's an opera.

The setting was fine, without getting in the way. Though I was slightly disappointed that they didn't move those barren trees at the end to make the funeral pyre that Norma and Pollione immolate themselves upon as the curtain comes down. Too expensive, I guess.

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