Recently in Performances
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Performances
25 Jan 2006
Norma in Munich — Two Reviews
Bellini's Norma is the story of a love triangle involving Norma, the Druid high priestess, Pollione, the Roman proconsul and father of Norma's two children, and Adalgisa, a Druid acolyte and Pollione's new conquest whom he intends to take to Rome. The role of Norma is generally considered one of the most difficult in opera literature. Few have succeeded in mastering it. Now Edita Gruberova, has taken on the role at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Here are two reviews.
Norma, Bavarian State Opera, Munich
By George Loomis [Financial Times, 25 January 2006]
The Bayerische Staatsoper had not done Norma since 1910, and Max-Josef-Platz was awash in Suche Karte (Ticket wanted) signs. The occasion was Edita Gruberova's first staged performance of the title role of Bellini's opera. "She's the first Norma since Caballé," everyone seemed to be saying.
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Ihre ureigene Norma
Bayerische Staatsoper: Edita Gruberova als Titelheldin von Bellinis Oper [Merkur Online, 22 January 2006]
Dreimal schlägt die Oberpriesterin den Gong, auf dass die Getreuen - alarmiert und hochgespannt zugleich - zusammenströmen. Und nicht viel anderes passierte, als Edita Gruberova vor einigen Jahren eröffnete, sie wolle sich nun aufmachen zur ultimativen Partie. Dabei ist Vincenzo Bellinis "Norma" in der Karriereplanung der Assoluta ein logisches Ziel: Nach dem Wechsel von der lyrischen Koloratur à la Rosina zu den wahnsinnigen Königinnen ist die Rolle nun ein weiterer Schritt ins Dramatische, mit dem man sich zugleich der Interpretationsgeschichte ausliefert. Denn wer die Norma prägt, der wird automatisch legendär.
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