Vincenzo Bellini: Norma

For more than a century since its premiere, Norma has remained a staple of the world’s leading opera houses and has been beloved by audiences worldwide. The National Centre for the Performing Arts’ production marks the first time the opera will appear on the Chinese stage in its complete, unabridged form. Led by renowned European director Pier’Alli, whose style is uniquely distinctive, the creative team employs symbolism and sculptural aesthetics to transform the Gaul of 50 BC under the iron rule of the Roman Empire, with its mysterious dark forests, solemn temples, and ancient Druidic totems, into a visually stunning and fantastical stage spectacle.

This production features celebrated Italian bel canto authority and Grammy Award–winning conductor Fabio Luisi, who will conduct a Chinese opera production for the first time. In addition, the production will present, for the first time in China, the latest scholarly edition of the score prepared by renowned musicologist Roger Parker. Previously performed at La Scala in Milan and the Festival della Valle d’Itria, this critical edition differs from the traditional Ricordi version that has been used for over a century and seeks to restore Bellini’s original intentions as faithfully as possible.

Creative Team

• Conductor: Fabio Luisi

• Director and Set Designer: Pier’Alli

• Costume Designer: Simona Morresi

• Lighting Designer: Franco Marri

• Multimedia Designer: Sergio Metalli

• Choreographer and Revival Director: Alessandra Panzavolta

• Chorus Master: Giulio Magnanini

Cast

• Norma (Soprano): Lidia Fridman / Gu Wenmeng

• Pollione (Tenor): Antonio Poli / Guo Zizhao

• Adalgisa (Mezzo-soprano): Annalisa Stroppa / Yajie Zhang

• Oroveso (Bass): Carlo Lepore / Guan Zhijing

• Clotilde (Soprano): Wang Jing

• Flavio (Tenor): Feng Haoran

National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing