[Met Performance] CID:101190



Norma
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, January 26, 1929 Matinee





Norma (23)
Vincenzo Bellini | Felice Romani
Norma
Rosa Ponselle

Pollione
Frederick Jagel

Adalgisa
Marion Telva

Oroveso
Ezio Pinza

Flavio
Giordano Paltrinieri

Clotilde
Minnie Egener


Conductor
Tullio Serafin







Review 1:

Review of Leonard Liebling in the American

ROSA PONSELLE SCORES AGAIN IN FEATURED ROLE OF NORMA

One of the most impressive and convincing artistic pleasures to be had at the Metropolitan Opera house was offered yesterday afternoon with the performance of Rosa Ponselle in the title role of Bellini's "Norma." The young American singer has succeeded in making the part peculiarly her own and it is doubtful whether any other soprano of the moment could equal her in warm quality of tone, sustained breath-control, and command of vocal style play to imposing, dramatic breadth rangimg from mere roulades of distinct expressiveness.

ACTING EXCELLENT

In her acting, too, Miss Ponselle attains to a high degree of plastic grandeur. She is a noble figure as the priestess tormented by love. Her performance at the "Norma" matinee yesterday added to the previous triumphs won by the diva in that opera.

Frederick Jagel sang the Pollione of the occasion and, as he also hails from America, the joy of the musical one hundred-per-centers was complete. The Jagel tenor tones had mellowness and volume, and were directed with high musical intelligence. In connection with the Jagel appearance a truly historical event must be recorded, the complimenting of one operatic tenor by another. Among the listeners was Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, who ordinarily sings the role of Pollione in "Norma."

PRAISED BY LAURI-VOLPI

Asked how the American was doing, his Italian colleague responded warmly" "Multo buono," which translated into Manhattanese, means "very good." Ezio Pinza and Marion Telva were the other vocal "leads" at the matinee, but Tullio Serafin was the leader, and his baton had all its wonted fervor and finesse.



Search by season: 1928-29

Search by title: Norma,



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