Opera Warhorses

Perhaps three decades ago, I had a conversation with Robert about whether the plot of Bellini’s “Norma” was plausible. He could not understand how a priestess could have two children, while performing her official duties. I said that she was an authority figure who had the ability to control her public appearances and was not [...]

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In the final days of Pamela Rosenberg’s controversial tenure as General Director of the San Francisco Opera, a production of Bellini’s “Norma” new to San Francisco was mounted, starring Catherine Naglestad as Norma, Irene Mishura as Adalgisa, Zoran Todorovich as Pollione, and Attila Jun as Oroveso. The production and performance, in the context of the performance history of Bellini’s [...]

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On this web-page are responses to the new website. My remarks are bolded.
November, 2005
Bill, It’s a great start. Perhaps after only your first opera you did not feel competent to comment, even retrospectively, on the quality (rather than the star-rating) of the great singers in San Diego. I hope in future chapters (years? pages?) you [...]

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