Monday, March 20, 2023

Bellini's Norma Is March 25, 2023, Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast


Summary: Bellini's Norma is the March 25, 2023, Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the 13th of the 2022-2023 season's 24 Saturday radio broadcasts.


Would Druid Chief Oroveso have demanded a sacrificial victim if he had known that his daughter, high-priestess Norma, would self-punish for her illicit love affair with Roman proconsul Pollione by identifying herself as the chastity-vow violator? Christian Van Horn as Bellini's Druid Chief Oroveso, who agrees to care for his half-Druid, half-Roman grandchildren: Christian Van Horn, Bass-baritone, via Facebook Feb. 22, 2023

Bellini's Norma is the March 25, 2023, Saturday matinee broadcast, airing at noon, 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the 13th of the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.
Nineteenth-century Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sep. 23, 1835) set his two-act tragic Druid-Roman opera to an Italian libretto by Italian librettist, antiquities and mythology historian, poet and French literature translator Felice Romani (born Giuseppe Felice Romani; Jan. 31, 1788-Jan. 28, 1865). Romani based his libretto upon Norma ou l'infanticide, by French playwright and poet Alexandre Soumet (Jan. 29, 1786-March 30, 1845). Soumet's five-act French tragedy had premiered Wednesday, April 6, 1831, at Théâtre national de l'Odéon (known since March 1990 as Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe), place de l'Odéon, sixth Parisian arrondissement (le 6e arrondissement de Paris), on the Seine River's left bank (la rive gauche de la Seine).
Bellini's Norma premiered Monday, Dec. 26, 1831, at Teatro alla Scala, Piazza della Scala, in Milan, Lombardy region, north central Italy. Norma numbered as the last of three Bellini operas with La Scala premieres. Norma was preceded by Saturday, Oct. 27, 1827, and Saturday, Feb. 14, 1829, premieres for Il Pirata and La Straniera, respectively.
Norma's Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Thursday, Feb. 27, 1890. The opera, sung in German, received three performances in the 1889-1890 season.
The 2022-2023 Met Opera season presents Norma as the first revival of the new production debuted by David McVicar in the 2017-2018 season. The Scottish opera and theatre director had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in the opera company's 600th performance of Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).
The first revival receives seven performances. The first revival opened Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The second through fifth performances took place Saturday, March 4, at 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 11, at 8:00 p.m.; and St. Patrick's Day, Friday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m. The sixth and seventh, closing performances are scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday matinee radio broadcast, March 25, at noon, 12:00 p.m..

The first revival of Sir David McVicar's 2017-2018 season-debuting new production of Bellini's Norma takes place in Met Opera's 2022-2023 season; sets by Robert Jones, costumes by Moritz Junge, lighting by Paule Constable and movement by Leah Hausman: Michael Spyres -- BariTenor, via Facebook Jan. 31, 2023

Maurizio Benini conducts all seven Norma performances, including the closing, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, March 25, in the 2022-2023 Met Opera season. The Italian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in the opera company’s 231st performance of L’Elisir d’Amore by 19th-century Italian bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).
Sonya Yoncheva is the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's Norma, fatally torn between her Druidic culture and her Roman lover. The Bulgarian operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, as Gilda in the opera company’s 859th performance of Verdi's Rigoletto.
Update: Sonya Yoncheva originally was scheduled to sing Norma in all seven performances, but instead she will appear in the first four and the sixth and seventh, closing performances. Per the Metropolitan Opera's tweet Friday, March 17, Angela Meade sings Norma in the fifth performance, Friday, March 17. The American operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, March 21, 2008, in the opera company’s 83rd performance of Verdi's Ernani.
Update: In addition to not appearing in the fifth of the season's seven Norma performances, Sonya Yoncheva misses the sixth performance but retains the seventh, closing performance. Helena Dix sings Norma in the sixth performance, Wednesday, March 22. The Australian operatic soprano made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, March 8, 2023, as Alice in the opera company's 190th performance of Verdi's Falstaff.
Update: As replacement for Sonya Yoncheva, Helena Dix sings Norma in the 2022-2023 season's seventh, closing Norma performance. Her appearance on the closing date increases the Tosca tally in her Met Opera portfolio to two performances.
Sonya Yoncheva's Tosca tally decreases from seven to four in the 2022-2023 season. A "seasonal cold" that "actually became a strong viral infection" necessitated Sonya Yoncheva's withdrawal from the season's last three Tosca performances, according to her Facebook posts and Twitter tweets Friday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 22.
SONYA YONCHEVA @sonyayoncheva. "Dear All, what I thought was a seasonal cold actually became a strong viral infection. I am trying to get better, but I am still not well enough for performing tonight. I wish good luck to my colleague, who replaces me and am sending you my warmest regards." Twitter. March 22, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/sonyayoncheva/status/1638644876647493636/div>
Ekaterina Gubanova is the season's Adalgisa, a young priestess who, like high priestess Norma, breaks her vows of chastity for Roman proconsul Pollione. The Russian mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, as Hélène Bezubenkov in the opera company's 11th performance of War and Peace by Russian-Soviet composer, conductor and pianist Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (April 23, 1891-March 5, 1953).
Michael Spyres is the season's Pollione, who fathers children with high priestess Norma, then rejects her for young priestess Adalgisa and finally shares a fiery death with Norma. The American operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in the title role in the opera company's 29th performance of La Damnation de Faust by French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz (Dec. 11, 1803-March 8, 1869).
Christian Van Horn is the season's Oroveso, Chief of the Druids, whose daughter Norma insists upon being the sacrificial victim that her father demands and who promises to care for Norma's half-Druid, half-Roman children. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, as Pistola in the opera company’s 176th performance of Verdi's Falstaff.
Sir David McVicar's Norma debuted Monday, Sep. 25, 2017, as a new production in the 2017-2018 Met Opera season. The new production received 12 performances in its debut season.
Sir David's production team comprises Robert Jones, set designer; Moritz Junge, costume designer; Paule Constable, lighting designer; and Leah Hausman, movement director. English set designer Robert Jones had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Sep. 26, 2011, in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Donizetti's Anna Bolena. German costume designer Moritz Junge had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, April 14, 2015, in David McVicar's new productions of Cavalleria Rusticana by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni (Dec. 7, 1863-Aug. 2, 1945) and Pagliacci by Italian opera composer Ruggero Leoncavallo (April 23, 1857-Aug. 9, 1919), during the opera company's 671st Cavalleria performance and 713th Pagliacci performance. British lighting designer Paule Constable had made her Met Opera debut Friday, April 11, 2008, in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Satyagraha by American composer Philip Glass (born Jan. 31, 1937). American choreographer Leah Hausman had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, alongside David McVicar, in Sir David's new production of Verdi's Il Trovatore ("The Troubadour"), which debuted during the opera company's 600th troubadour performance.
The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues with the April 1, 2023, airing of Verdi's Falstaff at 12:30 p.m. The matinee performance numbers as the 14th of the season's 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

(left) Sonya Yoncheva in the title role of Druidic high-priestess Norma; (upper right) Michael Spyres as Roman proconsul Pollione, illicit lover of Norma (Sonya Yoncheva); (lower right) Druidic Norma (Sonya Yoncheva) with her kneeling Roman lover, Pollione, and her father, Druidic Chief Oroveso (Christian Van Horn) in first revival of Sir David McVicar's production of Bellini's Norma; sets by Robert Jones, costumes by Moritz Junge, lighting by Paule Constable and movement by Leah Hausman: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Feb. 28, 2023

Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:
Would Druid Chief Oroveso have demanded a sacrificial victim if he had known that his daughter, high-priestess Norma, would self-punish for her illicit love affair with Roman proconsul Pollione by identifying herself as the chastity-vow violator? Christian Van Horn as Bellini's Druid Chief Oroveso, who agrees to care for his half-Druid, half-Roman grandchildren: Christian Van Horn, Bass-baritone, via Facebook Feb. 22, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0hbgd8MU9Lt8weQtKiPYn6gDN1xRztHvupYk1fCcdVq9XZrGCMZg3VLPb8Qy13EWhl&id=100028543367787
The first revival of Sir David McVicar's 2017-2018 season-debuting new production of Bellini's Norma takes place in Met Opera's 2022-2023 season; sets by Robert Jones, costumes by Moritz Junge, lighting by Paule Constable and movement by Leah Hausman: Michael Spyres -- BariTenor, via Facebook Jan. 31, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/spikelmyers/posts/pfbid02ciHMHD2pntFJ2DiN9ATcGwiqe9JXvXvmXttjJYBPLraXDPZxB7uC4JyZc3EhwEZcl
(left) Sonya Yoncheva in the title role of Druidic high-priestess Norma; (upper right) Michael Spyres as Roman proconsul Pollione, illicit lover of Norma (Sonya Yoncheva); (lower right) Druidic Norma (Sonya Yoncheva) with her kneeling Roman lover, Pollione, and her father, Druidic Chief Oroveso (Christian Van Horn) in first revival of Sir David McVicar's production of Bellini's Norma; sets by Robert Jones, costumes by Moritz Junge, lighting by Paule Constable and movement by Leah Hausman: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Feb. 28, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1630632246494261255

For further information:
Christian Van Horn, Bass-baritone. "𝕰𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖊 Norma opens next week @metopera @sonyayoncheva @gubanova_mezzo @spikelmyers @brittanyolivialogan #bassbaritone #operasingersofinstagram #instaopera #instaclassical #opera #operasinger #metopera." Facebook. Feb. 22, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0hbgd8MU9Lt8weQtKiPYn6gDN1xRztHvupYk1fCcdVq9XZrGCMZg3VLPb8Qy13EWhl&id=100028543367787
“Debut: Angela Meade.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352433 Ernani {83} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/21/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352433
"Debut: Helena Dix." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357173 Falstaff {190} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/08/2019. (Debut: Helena Dix). Metropolitan Opera House. March 8, 2019.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357173
“Debut: Maurizio Benini.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330354 L’Elisir d’Amore {231} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 01/19/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330354
"Debut: Michael Spyres." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357404 La Damnation de Faust {29} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/01/2020. (Debut: Michael Spyres). Metropolitan Opera House. February 1, 2020.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357404
“Debut: Sonya Yoncheva.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355145 Rigoletto {859} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/21/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355145
"Debuts: Aleksei Markov, Marina Poplavskaya, Keith Jameson, Ekaterina Gubanova, Vitaliy Bilyy, Alexander Morozov, Todd Thomas, Lucas Meachem, Jennifer Zetlan, Samuel Dylan Rosner, Jeffrey Roger, Scott Graham, Michael Gomborone, Ashley Kohl." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352228 War and Peace {11} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/10/2007. Sirius Broadcast live. Streamed at metopera.org.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=314310
"Debuts: David McVicar, Charles Edwards, Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Leah Hausman." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353605 New Production Il Trovatore {600} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/16/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353605
“Debuts: Peter Van Praet, Paolo Fanale, Carlo Bosi, Christian Van Horn.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355173 Falstaff {176} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/06/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355173
"Debuts: Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch, Kevin Pollard, Paule Constable, Leo Warner, Mark Grimmer, 59 Productions, Dante Anzolini, Ellie Dehn, Skills Ensemble." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352481 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Satyagraha {1} Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 04/11/2008, Sirius Broadcast live Streamed at metopera.org. (Debuts: Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch, Kevin Pollard, Paule Constable, Leo Warner, Mark Grimmer, 59 Productions, Dante Anzolini, Ellie Dehn, Skills Ensemble Broadcast/Streamed Review). Metropolitan Opera House. April 11, 2008 Broadcast/Streamed. Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352481
"Debuts: Rae Smith, Moritz Junge, Emil Wolk, Marty Keiser, Andy Sapora." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355936 New Production Cavalleria Rusticana {671} Pagliacci {713} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/14/2015, Metropolitan Opera Radio Sirius XM channel 74 Broadcast live Streamed at metopera.org. (Debuts: Rae Smith, Moritz Junge, Emil Wolk, Marty Keiser, Andy Sapora Broadcast/Streamed). Metropolitan Opera House. April 14, 2015 Broadcast/Streamed. New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355936
"Debuts: Robert Jones, Jenny Tiramani." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354049 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Anna Bolena {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2011., Sirius and XM Broadcast live Streamed at metopera.org Plazacast. Taped for later telecast. (Opening Night {127} Peter Gelb, General Manager. (Debuts: Robert Jones, Jenny Tiramani. Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast/Plazacast Review). Metropolitan Opera House. September 26, 2011 Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast/Plazacast. Opening Night {127} Peter Gelb, General Manager. Metropolitan Opera Premiere.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354049
Marriner, Derdriu. "2017-2018 Met Opera Season Opens Sept. 25 With Bellini’s Norma." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 18, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/09/2017-2018-met-opera-season-opens-sept.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's 2022-2023 Season Has 24 Saturday Matinee Opera Broadcasts." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/met-operas-2022-2023-season-has-24.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Norma Acts III and IV Aired Dec. 26, 1931, as Second Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/02/norma-acts-iii-and-iv-aired-dec-26-1931.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Norma Is the Dec. 16, 2017, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 11, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/norma-is-dec-16-2017-met-opera-saturday.html
Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "Bellini’s scorching bel canto drama Norma opens tonight, February 28, starring soprano @SonyaYoncheva in the title role. Maestro Maurizio Benini conducts David McVicar’s fiery production. On stage Feb 28–Mar 25: http://bit.ly/39paw1t." Twitter. Feb. 28, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1630632246494261255
Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "For this afternoon’s performance of Bellini’s Norma, the role of Norma will be sung by Helena Dix. #castchange." Twitter. March 25, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1639628786357399553
Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "For this evening’s performance of Bellini’s Norma, the title role will be sung by Helena Dix. #castchange." Twitter. March 22, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1638570480947933185
Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "In tonight’s performance of Bellini’s Norma, the title role will be sung by Angela Meade. #castchange." Twitter. March 17, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1636800827586117663
"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Norma." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 8550 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Norma {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/27/1890. Metropolitan Opera Premiere In German.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=8550
Michael Spyres -- BariTenor. "Norma, Bellini’s scorching bel canto drama, returns to the Met stage on February 28, starring soprano SONYA YONCHEVA as the fearless title priestess. David McVicar’s fiery production also features mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova, tenor Michael Spyres - BariTenor, and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn, Bass-baritone. Maestro Maurizio Benini conducts. Opens February 28: bit.ly/39paw1t. Photos by Ken Howard / Met Opera." Facebook. Jan. 31, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/spikelmyers/posts/pfbid02ciHMHD2pntFJ2DiN9ATcGwiqe9JXvXvmXttjJYBPLraXDPZxB7uC4JyZc3EhwEZcl
"New Production Norma." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356744 New Production Norma {157} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/25/2017, Metropolitan Opera Radio Sirius XM channel 75 Broadcast live. Streamed at metopera.org Times Squarecast. (Opening Night {133} Peter Gelb General Manager. Debuts: Christopher Reynolds, John Reynolds. Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast). Metropolitan Opera House. September 25, 2017 Broadcast/Streamed/Times Squarecast. Opening Night {133} Peter Gelb, General Manager. New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356744
SONYA YONCHEVA. "Dear All, I am having a seasonal cold, which doesn’t allow me to be singing tonight at the MET. See you on March 22 and 25." Facebook. March 17, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/sonyayonchevaofficial/posts/pfbid028izXQh5t943MLyA34sgu4Sc5rtAd7bVTkgmHKh1M4yoBaZx4478bUJxcRUk1RCKMl
SONYA YONCHEVA. "Dear All, what I thought was a seasonal cold actually became a strong viral infection. I am trying to get better, but I am still not well enough for performing tonight. I wish good luck to my colleague, who replaces me and am sending you my warmest regards." Facebook. March 22, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/sonyayonchevaofficial/posts/pfbid0kLNiUmXntsD5wyxtGSkcLNALkbey9NKvASDWEaCKhrTNTrSupLBEG4RJ8cZ8ADo7l
SONYA YONCHEVA. "Ten years after my 2013 Met debut, I’ll be standing on this stage I love so much tonight for the first time singing my 9th Met role, Bellini’s 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂 and this marvelous aria, “Casta diva”. I’m beyond happy to add this magnificent role to my Met repertoire and I wish a big Toi, Toi, Toi to everyone on and off the stage of The Metropolitan Opera for this opening night. You can listen live tonight on Sirius XM from the final dress rehearsal of 'Norma', MetOpera 2023 / Conductor: Maurizio Benini / Staging: David McVicar #Norma #metropolitanopera #MetOpera #sonyayoncheva." Facebook. Feb. 28, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/sonyayonchevaofficial/posts/pfbid035DXsmu7b9os5bRyApAvNRikndvwlugvyMXmiGgMDQ6ZCZA8Gq6B4otUkErjv3S9DI
SONYA YONCHEVA @sonyayoncheva. "Dear All, I am having a seasonal cold, which doesn’t allow me to be singing tonight at the MET. See you on March 22 and 25." Twitter. March 17, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/sonyayoncheva/status/1636807023634333698
SONYA YONCHEVA @sonyayoncheva. "Dear All, what I thought was a seasonal cold actually became a strong viral infection. I am trying to get better, but I am still not well enough for performing tonight. I wish good luck to my colleague, who replaces me and am sending you my warmest regards." Twitter. March 22, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/sonyayoncheva/status/1638644876647493636


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