Norma

“Marta Torbidoni as Norma: triumphant” (L’Ape Musicale) To mark its 60th anniversary, the Macerata Opera Festival at the Sferisterio is celebrating with Bellini’s Norma in a new production by Milanese director and documentary filmmaker Maria Mauti. In the pit is Bellini specialist Fabrizio Maria Carminati, artistic director of the Teatro Bellini in Catania. Rising soprano Marta Torbidoni in the title role is flanked by an excellent, young cast including Roberta Mantegna (Adalgisa), Antonio Poli (Pollione) and Riccardo Fassi (Oroveso). Torbidoni’s “high notes soar and are always well controlled, her declamato is incisive in its power, and her timbre stands out for its luminosity and softness”. At her side, Mantegna is “always in perfect harmony” as the two sopranos demonstrated “beautiful and complementary voices” (Teatro). The festival orchestra under the masterful baton of Carminati is “magnificent, as was the sound of the festival choir under the direction of Martino Faggiani” (Klassik-begeistert.de).