UNKNWON NEWSPAPER: “Norma...”

     Festoso inizio

     We owe the fact that the score of Norma is not relegated to the archives to the great vocal gifts, extraordinary stylistic sensibility, and finally, the artistic faculty of Mme Maria Meneghini Callas. After the vigorous interpretation of Cherubini’s Medea at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, there is no doubt that Mme Callas also found for Norma an abundance of expression, unusual power and length of breath, and a variety of coloristic timbres in exceptional richness and splendor of the vocal registers. She presented herself as a marvelous coloratura soprano in the florid passages, an evocative lyric soprano in the expansion of the melodic phrase, and a dramatic soprano full of vitality and vibrancy in the recitative and declamatory cantabile. Her singing is always spontaneous and fresh, brimming with natural sentiment; her voice is amongst the most beautiful, luminous and flexible ones that can be heard, and the concise clarity of communication demonstrates the musical intelligence of this interesting artist, who succeeds in making each note intimately convey Bellini’s language. Mme Elena Nicolai was a valuable collaborator, having returned to us to present the character of Adalgisa with customary accuracy and nobility of singing. Mme Nicolai develops and extends her singing with vivacity in pronunciation of the text, with intimate understanding of the lyrical and dramatic impact, and enfolds and warms everything with the keenness of her musicality, the flame of her artistic sense, and the robust resonant firmness of her voice. The constant change of vocal registers, the difficulty of the tessitura, in addition to the necessity of fluid vocal evolvement firmly modeled in dramatic emphasis but also soft and warm in melodic expression, provide a difficult, perilous task for the tenor in Norma. Franco Corelli, a young singer exhibiting excellent possibilities, was aware of the demand of Pollione’s part, and lived up to the responsibility it presented. With well-molded phrasing and fervor of expression, Corelli had already established himself in the first act and demonstrated his knowledge of using solid vocal means both in the impetuosity of dramatic tension and in the gentleness of melodic line.
     A solemn authoritative intonation and resplendent virile firmness of voice make Boris Christoff an Oroveso of incontestable authority in singing vigor and in dignity of stage presence. [Bruna] Ronchini and [Raimondo] Botteghelli correctly carried out their duty in the opera’s minor roles. The chorus appeared renewed and rejuvenated in its lines, and yet it gained in strength and color. This resulted in the War Chorus of the fourth act being chanted with heroic emphasis, demonstrating the expert direction of Maestro Adolfo Fanfani. Stage movements, postures and grouping, the Druid ritual in the forest, and other scenic episodes were directed by [Livio] Luzzato with appropriateness and aesthetic taste.
     It was a cheerful and festive opening night, buzzing with approval and passionate outpouring for the performers as well as for Maestro Votto, who was received with long intense welcoming applause both at the beginning of the performance and after a sparkling, brilliant rendition of the overture. The hall of the Teatro Verdi had the lively look of exceptional evenings; the boxes, orchestra, balconies and gallery were crowded with a most elegant audience, and the box balustrades were all adorned with flowers. An impressive audience, who immediately became aware of the high quality of the rendition of Bellini’s music but let itself be won over gradually by the quality of the singing, bestowed applause on each interpreter with knowledgeable judgment. It was Mme Callas who won the first acclamation and established the incandescent climate of the entire evening, which passed with continual enthusiastic shows of approval including approximately thirty-four curtain calls for the artists shared among the four acts, to which very frequent and cordial applause during the acts should be added, impressing an auspicious sign into this opening performance.