(August 12, 2016) The Millenium Opera and Orchestra presents Vincenzo Bellini’s ‘Norma’ at the Phoenix Theatre in Melbourne from August 26-27 and September 3. The event is supported by the Italian Cultural Institute. An opening note introducing the event on the ICI website reads: the opera (sung in Italian with surtitles) is ‘set in occupied Gaul, the priestess Norma is spurred by her people to rebel against the Romans. However, Norma falls in love with the Roman Pollio with whom she has two children. Pollio has a relation with Adalgisa, another druid priestess. When Norma discovers his affair, she threatens to kill her children. An unexpected friendship with Adalgisa stops Norma from killing her children. This friendship lies at the centre of the opera’. The performers are: Suzanne Ribet and Suzan Harvey in the role of Norma; Sam Granadda in the role of Pollio; Kathryn Grey and Susan Neilson in the role of Adalgisa; Millenium Opera and Millenium Orchestra and orchestra director Arun Patterson. (Red)
