[Met Tour] CID:139430



Norma
Boston Opera House, Boston, Massachusetts, Thu, April 5, 1945




Norma (51)
Vincenzo Bellini | Felice Romani
Norma
Zinka Milanov

Pollione
Frederick Jagel

Adalgisa
Jennie Tourel

Oroveso
Norman Cordon

Flavio
Alessio De Paolis

Clotilde
Thelma Votipka


Conductor
Cesare Sodero







Review 1:

Review of Leo Gaffney in an unidentified Boston newspaper

'Norma' Given Splendid Revival by Met's Stars

Boston's annual splurge with de luxe grand opera began last night with Bellini's "Norma," which for 51 years had been quite a stranger here.

Not the best choice for an imposing beginning be the Metropolitan, "Norma" nevertheless still belongs to the repertory of large scale music drama - despite its venerable book and old-fashioned style.

In the best Italian tradition of pre-Wagner days, the music is cast in the recitative-and-air mold, with plenty of leisure for oom-pah introductions to the nobler strains, beautiful vocal ornaments replete with breathy mordents and parallel thirds, long colloquies and calm choruses.

And yet the old melodic lines are so graceful in themselves, so tranquilly classic in structure that they can fall on modern ears with delighted ease. Last night's audience came under the spell gratefully.

The singing was largely in the vein, too. Zinka Milanov, of stunning appearance, sang the title role with great dignity and generally big and fine soprano tone. At her best in the middle voice, her lovely legato amply compensated for a shrill tendency in the upper register.

Jennie Tourel, as Adalgisa, seemed to have the perfect alto for the requirements. And the two women's voices blended beautifully in the two principal and quite famous duets.

Vocally, Frederick Jagel was a happy choice for Pollione, the Faithless, but at no time did he become the proud and haughty Roman on the acting side. Norman Cordon was a resolute basso.

Like so many grand operas, "Norma" follows the traditional story of illicit, though heartfelt love, terminating in the death - usually violent - of both parties. It is also traditional, it seems, to exact from the lovers a heavy atonement.



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