Norma

Norma is an opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani.

The original text

Based on the play Norma, ou L'infanticide by Alexandre Soumet.

It was first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26 December 1831.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1969: Concert version presented by NAPAC Opera.

1970: Presented by NAPAC Opera.

1972: Presented in Italian by PACOFS Opera in the State Theatre in Bloemfontein and in the Ernest Oppenheimer Theatre in Welkom, with Nellie du Toit as Norma, Nicola Cencherle as Pollione, Øystein Liltved as Oroveso, Bets Botha as Adalgisa. Produced by James Conrad, Durban Symphony Orchestra conducted by Franco Ferraris.

1974: Presented in Italian by PACT Opera in the Aula Pretoria, and at Johannesburg Civic Theatre, with Nellie du Toit as Norma, Bruno Prevedi as Pollione, Nicola Zaccaria as the High Priest Oroveso and Mirna Pecile in the role of Adalgisa. The South African singers George Kok and Ravonne Swart sang the roles of Flavio and Clotilde respectively. Produced by Dino Yannopoulos, PACT Orchestra conducted by Leo Quayle; presented by PACOFS Opera.

1976: Presented by CAPAB Opera.

1998: Presented by CAPAB Opera (28 May – 12 June)

2010: Vignettes from Norma presented by Black Tie Ensemble (in collaboration with UNISA Music Department, production sponsored by The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and the Gauteng Provincial Government: Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation). Music and Dramatic Advisor - Mimi Coertse, Coach and accompanist - Susan Steenkamp-Swanepoel, Director - Arnold Cloete, Costume coordinator - Bronwen Lovegrove, Assistant to the director & stage manager - Thabang Senekal, Sub-title operator - Madeleen Engelbrecht. With Loveline Madumo (Norma), Goitsemang Lehobye (Adalgisa), Tshepang Wolf (Pollione), Caroline Nkwe (Clotilde), Rethabile Madumo, Ofentse Thaba (Children).

Sources

Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.

Antoinette Johanna Olivier. 2014. 'Exploring contributions to opera by The Black Tie Ensemble: a historical case study'. Mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master‟s in Music at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.