That is being said with a heavy heart, as I love Norma. The production is not without redeeming qualities, but it left me cold and now takes the spot from under the Hasmik Papian and Daniela Dessi- narrowly- as the weakest Norma I've seen(not seen the other Dimitra Theodossiou production yet, but will do despite the negative things I've heard about it). As said, there are redeeming qualities. The forest set is very atmospheric with Casta Diva nicely staged and lit. Riccardo Zanallato gives the production's most consistent performance, he exudes nobility and authority as Oroveso, the final scene shows him at his most vivid, and he has a warm and well-projected voice. Dimitra Theodossiou has moments where her singing is a little too strident and chesty, but her Norma showcases some lovely pianissimos, competent passage-work, smooth legato and overall scintillating singing, and on a dramatic front she embodies the role. Nidia Palacios conveys some warmth, if not Adalgisa's other character complexities, and has a good if never thrilling voice, but is let down by her lack of musicianship and failure to blend with Theodossiou in their duets.
Carlo Ventre is poor as Pollione(on DVD only Vickers opposite Caballe has impressed in this thankless role), he has no acting ability whatsoever, has no chemistry with Theodossiou and he bleats and barks his way through the vocal line. The orchestral playing and chorus singing are good, but never really exciting, while the conducting has the elegant phrasing and musicianship but not the depth(especially true in Norma's confession), so in that regard it was a solid reading of the score but a passionless one. It was the production values and staging though where the production really sank. I liked the forest set, the rest of the sets though were stark and barren in contrast. The staging is either static, the duets between Norma and Adalgisa just clunk along with no magic at all, or clumsy, the fact that Pollione when tied up, thanks to how that part was staged, can easily be on the loose despite him supposed to be restrained is just stupid. The worst asset would probably be the costumes, which were distracting and ugly. Norma's especially, made up to look like she's deranged, are just hideous.
In conclusion, clumsy and unmoving though not entirely unwatchable. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Carlo Ventre is poor as Pollione(on DVD only Vickers opposite Caballe has impressed in this thankless role), he has no acting ability whatsoever, has no chemistry with Theodossiou and he bleats and barks his way through the vocal line. The orchestral playing and chorus singing are good, but never really exciting, while the conducting has the elegant phrasing and musicianship but not the depth(especially true in Norma's confession), so in that regard it was a solid reading of the score but a passionless one. It was the production values and staging though where the production really sank. I liked the forest set, the rest of the sets though were stark and barren in contrast. The staging is either static, the duets between Norma and Adalgisa just clunk along with no magic at all, or clumsy, the fact that Pollione when tied up, thanks to how that part was staged, can easily be on the loose despite him supposed to be restrained is just stupid. The worst asset would probably be the costumes, which were distracting and ugly. Norma's especially, made up to look like she's deranged, are just hideous.
In conclusion, clumsy and unmoving though not entirely unwatchable. 4/10 Bethany Cox
