I did like this production of Norma, but I didn't love it. I did find the picture quality rather blurry at times, the sound quality is muffled, the lighting rather dim, the subtitles erratic and while Bonynge's conducting has moments of brilliance there are others where he disappoints such as Pollione's big aria which he rushes through spoiling somewhat the aria's beauty.
That said, the costumes and sets are above decent, the story and characters engaging and the music throughout sublime. The orchestra play stylistically and powerfully. Joan Sutherland is past her prime I admit, but she does sing beautifully and commands the stage very well.
Casta Diva was an unfortunate disappointment, the high notes were fine and the speed was ideal, but Sutherland on the sustained phrases sounded as though she was going to run out of breath any second and her lower middle/low registers have shades of flatness. She does though warm up significantly and her duets with Troyanos are stunning.
Francisco Oroveso is rather bland in the acting as Pollione, but he is very dashing and sings wonderfully with gorgeous tone. Justino Diaz is excellent, as are the chorus, but the highlight is Tatiana Troyanos who is just perfection as Adalgaisa.
Overall, the production is flawed, but I thought it was pretty good. 6.5/10 Bethany Cox
That said, the costumes and sets are above decent, the story and characters engaging and the music throughout sublime. The orchestra play stylistically and powerfully. Joan Sutherland is past her prime I admit, but she does sing beautifully and commands the stage very well.
Casta Diva was an unfortunate disappointment, the high notes were fine and the speed was ideal, but Sutherland on the sustained phrases sounded as though she was going to run out of breath any second and her lower middle/low registers have shades of flatness. She does though warm up significantly and her duets with Troyanos are stunning.
Francisco Oroveso is rather bland in the acting as Pollione, but he is very dashing and sings wonderfully with gorgeous tone. Justino Diaz is excellent, as are the chorus, but the highlight is Tatiana Troyanos who is just perfection as Adalgaisa.
Overall, the production is flawed, but I thought it was pretty good. 6.5/10 Bethany Cox