The Opera Tattler

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SF Opera’s Norma (Berti)

Sf-opera-norma-set-2014* Notes * 
The 92nd season of San Francisco Opera opened last night with a musically luminous Norma. Maestro Nicola Luisotti conducted with vigor, and the orchestra never overwhelmed the singers, only briefly getting ahead of them once or twice. The woodwinds were particularly beautiful. The chorus sang well, the chorus members sounded unified and together.

Jacqueline Piccolino was a fine Clotilda and Christian Van Horn sang Oroveso with power. Though lacking perfect control, Marco Berti was always audible and made for a respectable Pollione.

Jamie Barton’s debut at San Francisco Opera was nothing less than impressive. Her voice simply glows. Her performance as Adalgisa was radiant, and she seemed at ease vocally. Sondra Radvanovsky did an admirable job with the difficult title role and was dramatically convincing. She had some harsh notes but sparkled as Norma nonetheless.

The co-production with Canadian Opera Company, Gran Teatre del Liceu and Lyric Opera of Chicago is inert and bloodless, despite being attractive enough. The set (pictured as a model above) is not dynamic but in the end it does feature real fire.

* Tattling * 
The audience was rather tame. There was only a little bit of noise from a latecomer who wanted to sit in ZZ 1 of the orchestra level.

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4 responses to “SF Opera’s Norma (Berti)”

  1. Miriam Avatar
    Miriam

    A tepid review and in my view – unfair. Radvanovsky has a gorgeous voice, rich and textured. Her vocal range and ease in bel canto was thrilling. A beautifully expressed ‘Casta Diva’ in a performance that places her in the circle of truly great Norma’s.
    Your words run over surface of ennui without depth or analysis leading to any greater understanding of why you were so clearly unimpressed. Clarity, Insight Expertise – sorely missing. Best you refrained from comment.

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  2. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Sondra has a gorgeous voice. I loved hearing the performance and vocally, I cannot imagine I will hear a better Norma. I was distracted by the dull production, and for some reason, am not enough of a Bellini fan to have been transported by the music alone. Perhaps it will be different next time, am hearing this again later in the run.

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  3. Anke Cruse Avatar
    Anke Cruse

    I heard Norma a few days ago and it was spectacular!
    Jami Barton and Sondra Radvanosky were excellent.

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  4. gil d. Avatar
    gil d.

    Sondra Radvanovsky and Jamie Barton were the two finest female singers that I have ever heard on stage…at the Sept. 39 performance, the two lead male singers, the Pollione and Oroviso were barely audible…Pollione was a replacement after about the 3rd performance.

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