Outstanding production made by Àlex Ollé for London's Royal Opera House

“We should not be ashamed to weep from emotion as we listen to it”
Richard Wagner

The high priestess Norma is the spiritual leader of the revolt against the Roman but she is also in love with Pollione, the leader of the forces of occupation which are oppressing her people, and has already borne him two children. Her betrayal threatens the survival of the community.

Norma's discovery that Pollione is now in love with her friend Adalgisa triggers off a series of emotional reactions: after furiously calling on her people to rise in arms she ultimately decides to sacrifice her own life. Paradise for her is the haven of religious faith, but also Pollione's love and her people's well-being.

This outstanding production was originally made by Àlex Ollé for London's Royal Opera House. It takes an up-to-date approach, setting the action against the background of an oppressive religion. While exploring the clash between individual desires and those of the community, Ollé depicts religion as a binding force and a way of making sense of the world, but also as a means for repressing any individual who violates the law. Torn between her own will and her people's freedom, Norma is also the powerless captive of collective references (social mores, revered ancient symbols and beliefs). Her doubts and fragility take on present-day connotations in the face of a religion verging on fanaticism, the blind instrument of an inflexible law. Norma, an obedient daughter, betrayed lover and desperate mother, is stifled by norms.

Left with no way out, she becomes a veritable heroine who confesses her guilt and is willing to die. This tale of the purifying power of sacrifice features one of the most difficult and emblematic leading roles in the history of opera. A masterpiece of bel canto, it was only the third opera staged at the Liceu in its very first season, in 1847, and is the perfect example of a tragedy in music.

PARADISE: faith, the love of Pollione and the community's well-being

With the support of:

With the collaboration of:

Norma

Tragedia lirica in two acts.
Libretto by Felice Romani, based on the play Norma ou L’infanticide by Alexandre Soumet.

World premiere: 26/12/1831 at the Teatre alla Scala, Milan.
Barcelona premiere: 4/6/1835 at the Teatre de la Santa Creu.
First Liceu performance: 16/10/1847.
Last Liceu performance: 17/2/ 2015.
Total number of Liceu performances: 155.

Artistic profile

Stage director

Àlex Ollé

Set design

Alfons Flores

Custome desigs

Lluc Castells

Lighting

Marco Filibeck

Production

Norma was produced in association with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London. This production was seen for the first time in London at the Royal Opera House on 12 September 2016.

Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu (Pablo Assante, director)

Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu

Conductor

Domingo Hindoyan

Cast

Pollione	Riccardo Massi	18th,21th,24th,27th,30th July
	Airam Hernández	19th,22th,25th,26th,28th,31th July
Oroveso	Nicolas Testé	18th,24th,27th,30th July
	Marko Mimica	19th,21th,22th,25th,26th,28th,31th July
Norma	Marina Rebeka	18th,21th,24th,27th,30th July
	Marta Mathéu	19th,26th July
	Sonya Yoncheva	22th,25th,28th,31th July
Adalgisa	Varduhi Abrahamyan	18th,21th,24th,27th,30th July
	Teresa Iervolino	19th,22th,25th,26th,28th,31th July
Clotilde	Núria Vilà
Flavio	Néstor Losán

Debut Liceu

Airam Hernández

Nicolas Testé

Marko Mimica

Marina Rebeka

Marta Mathéu

Varduhi Abrahamyan

Núria Vilà

Cast Changes

• Tenor Riccardo Massi sings the role of Pollione replacing Paolo Fanale, who has withdrawn due to illness.
• Bass baritone Marko Mimica sings the role of Oroveso on the performance of July 21, replacing Nicolas Testé, who is recovering from a laryngitis.
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