The Sunday Opera: "Norma" from the Lyric Opera of Chicago

Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma” from the Lyric Opera of Chicago is this week’s Sunday Opera (7/2 – 3:00 p.m.).  This excellent example of the Bel Canto genre tells the tragic story of the conflict between love and duty and features Sondra Radvanovsky as the Druid priestess Norma who has secretly loved and bore the children of the Roman governor Pollione (Russell Thomas).   When Pollione turns his affections to Norma’s assistant, Adalgisa (Elizabeth DeShong), the action is set in motion for a fiery conclusion.  The cast also includes Andrea Silvestrelli as Oroveso, Norma’s high priest father.   After the opera, join Michael Kownacky for more music by Bellini including his Mass in A minor for soloists and full chorus written while he was a student and a piano fantasy based on motifs from Bellini’s opera “Beatrice di Tenda.”