Joyce DiDonato and Sondra Radvanovsky will star in the Metropolitan Opera’s season opener Norma on 25 September. Norma features Radvanovsky as Norma and DiDonato as Adalgisa, with David McVicar directing.
Norma tells the story of a love rivalry between two druid priestesses, set against the backdrop of Rome’s occupation of Gaul. It runs from 25 September – 16 December, with the Met Opera Orchestra conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
“I think Norma is one of the most monumental operas, first and foremost because of the beautiful bel canto music,” commented Radvanovsky. “I think it is going to be a great combination and all of us together will be magical.”
McVicar’s new staging of Bellini’s masterpiece features set design by Robert Jones, lighting design from Paule Constable and costumes by Moritz Junge. Other key performers include Joseph Calleja as Pollione and Matthew Rose as Oroveso.
“Visually we’ve tried to find a world which is true to history,” said McVicar. “They worshipped in forests, they worshipped in groves, and we’ve tried to stay true to that.”