(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- In a new co-production with Opéra de Rouen, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will present Vincenzo Bellini's 1831 bel canto masterpiece opera, Norma, a lyrical tragedy about a high priestess of the ancient Druids whose passionate love for Pollione, an unfaithful Roman conqueror, has fateful consequences.
The tragic heroine's role has challenged the world's greatest sopranos, including 20th century legends Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé, as well as some of today's superstar divas, notably, Cecilia Bartoli. The role of Norma calls for exacting, flexible vocal control, including the expression of beauty in tone as well as precision in bel canto ornamentation, while the emotional range encompasses anguish over conflicting personal and public responsibilities, both romantic and maternal love, passionate jealousy, murderous intent, and tragic resignation.
The ROHM-Opéra de Rouen co-production features the superb Romanian soprano, Elena Mosuc as Norma, while Pollione is sung by the acclaimed Belgian tenor, Marc Laho, who is known to Muscat audiences most recently for his performance in The Pearl Fishers, stated a press release. The stellar cast is completed by the award-wining Armenian soprano, Anna Kasyan in the role of Adalgisa, the young priestess with whom Pollione falls in love.
Norma is considered to be one of the finest operas in the bel canto repertoire and many consider it to be Bellini's finest dramatic work.
The great Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) praised Bellini for the 'elevation of thought' underlying the duet in Norma, In mia man alfin tu sei (At last you are in my hands). In a rare gesture of commendation, Verdi declared, 'No-one ever has created another more beautiful and heavenly.'
The opera has stood the test of time and is brilliantly realised in the exciting ROHM-Opéra de Rouen production. It is staged in traditional dress by the renowned director, Frédéric Roels with the Orchestra and Choir of Opéra de Rouen conducted by Maestro Fabrizio Maria Carminati, an expert in the bel canto repertoire.
Four young school boys and girls from Muscat will participate in all performances of the opera in the role of extras.
Bellini's unforgettable tragedy, Norma will be performed at ROHM on Thursday, February 22 and Sunday, February 25, at 7pm.
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