The Met Opens Its Season With a Splendid ‘Norma’

(L–R) Joyce DiDonato as Adalgisa and Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role of Bellini's "Norma." Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

NEW YORK—The act of starring at the Metropolitan Opera on the opening night of the season is one of the music world’s unofficial honors. The singer doesn’t get a statuette, but in Sondra Radvanovsky’s case, her expressive face is found on posters all around town and on the cover of the playbill for the entire opera season, not just for “Norma.” The Met’s credo is “the voice must be heard,” and Radvanovsky demonstrates again in “Norma” that she certainly possesses one of those rare voices.

Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece opened the season in a new production, directed by Sir David McVicar. While the gloomy set didn’t provide any excitement, the outstanding cast, orchestra, and chorus delivered plenty of fireworks.

The Plot

The opera takes place in Gaul (France), when it was occupied by Rome in 50 B.C. Norma, the high priestess of the Druids, is in love with the Roman proconsul Pollione. He fathered the two children she has been raising in secret. However, when the action begins, he has already shifted his attentions to Adalgisa, a novice priestess. Norma prays to the chaste goddess of the moon (“Casta diva”), but performs a military role in addition to her religious duties. She promises to lead a revolt against the Romans, but holds back because she is concerned about Pollione. Meanwhile, he begs Adalgisa to run off to Rome with him.