The Met’s new Norma gives the people what they want.
by Paul J. Pelkonen
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| Woman on top: Sondra Radvanovsky (center) and Joyce DiDonato (right) in Act I of Norma. Photo by Ken Howard © 2017 The Metropolitan Opera. |
In the twelve years since Peter Gelb took the helm of the Metropolitan Opera, the company's opening night has been a splashy, if tricky proposition. Splashy because it's a big glitzy occasion with celebrities in gowns on the red carpet, a big fancy dinner afterwards and for the little people (like your humble correspondent) a free public simulcast on the electronic wonderwall televisions of Times Square with the opera pumped through speakers. For Mr. Gelb, Opening Night (the caps are his) has been the chance to premiere a new production at the Met. This new Norma (directed by Sir David McVicar and starring Sondra Radvanovsky and Joyce Di Donato) provided every opportunity for a a slam dunk.
