Love goes that far

Vincenzo Bellini's Norma - one of the central bel canto operas - has not been heard at the Vienna State Opera for more than ten years; there has not been a staged performance of this opera here for almost 45 years. The work is bursting with the musically extraordinary: not only has the aria "Casta diva" become an icon of Italian opera, the entire work sparkles with musical gems and is a corresponding attraction of the operatic repertoire.

Now there is finally a new production of the work: Cyril Teste - the director of the new Salome production in 2023 - is staging it, Michele Mariotti is the musical director. The cast sparkles just like the work: Federica Lombardi, one of the most beautiful soprano voices of the younger generation, sings the title role, while Pollione is sung by the internationally acclaimed KS Juan Diego Flórez. In addition, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (as Oroveso) makes his return to the Staatsoper and Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (as Adalgisa) returns.