Cast
| Norma | Lisette Oropesa | |
| Pollione | John Osborn | |
| Oroveso | Kristoffer Töyrä | |
| Adalgisa | Ann-Kristin Jones | |
| Clotilde | Natallia Salavei | |
| Flavio | William Davis Lind |
Riccardo Frizza
OrchestraThe Göteborg Opera Orchestra
ChorusThe Göteborg Opera Chorus
About
Norma is wrapped up in forbidden love, much like the classic Romeo and Juliet story. In Norma, the love affair between representatives of opposing factions is complicated by a third party. High Priestess Norma's lover is Pollione, the hated Roman commander who has conquered Gaul. He is also the father of Norma's two secret children. If the affair is revealed, Norma will lose her position. When Pollione falls in love with the young priestess Adalgisa, Norma is furious, and the story takes a tragic and fatal turn.
The work, especially its concert version, has a long tradition. In Norma, one of the masterpieces of bel canto , the audience can enjoy the vocal prowess of the soprano soloists. The work's iconic "Casta diva" aria has been made famous by bel canto heroines Maria Callas and Edita Gruberova, among others.
Now, for the first time, the role of Norma is taken up by Lisette Oropesa, a dazzling star of a young generation of singers, continuing the tradition of great sopranos. She made an indelible impression on Opera Festival audiences as Juliana in Romeo and Juliet in 2023. Since then, she has conquered the world's greatest opera stages and established herself among the true superstars of opera.
Media
Casta Diva - Norma - Carnegie Recital
Interview - Forum Opéra - Lorsqu'un rôle me convient, je veux grandir avec lui
In a wide-ranging Forum Opéra interview, Lisette discusses Maria Stuarda, her Verona Turandot debut, Norma, and teaching.
Critical Roundup: Norma at the Savonlinna Opera Festival
The critics and the castle audience on Lisette's role debut as Norma at the Savonlinna Opera Festival.
Reviews
Lisette Oropesan Norma helkkyi kuin unelma – Oopperajuhlien viimeinen ensi-ilta villitsi yleisön
Lisette Oropesan taito, äänen kauneus ja lämmin lavasäteily olivat yhdistelmä, joka valloitti Olavinlinnan yleisön hetkessä.
Norman rooliin pystyvät vain muutamat maailmassa, ja keskiviikkona kuulimme yhtä heistä. Luulenpa, että pian Oropesa laulaa tätä nyt debytoimaansa roolia ympäri maailmaa.
Lisette Oropesa's technical mastery, the beauty of her voice, and her warm stage presence formed a combination that captivated the audience at Olavinlinna almost instantly.
Only a handful of singers in the world can perform the role of Norma, and on Wednesday we heard one of them. I suspect Oropesa will soon be singing this role, in which she has now made her debut, on stages around the globe.
—
Riitta-Leena Lempinen-Vesa
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Itä-SavoNorman ensi-ilta vei jalat alta
Jo toista kertaa Savonlinnassa urallaan esiintynyt Lisette Oropesa yksinkertaisesti naulasi koko homman. Ääni soi puhtaasti, kuten bel cantossa kuuluukin, laulu oli voimakasta ja läsnäolo Huikeaa!
Appearing in Savonlinna for the second time in her career, Lisette Oropesa quite simply nailed the whole thing. Her voice rang out purely, just as it should in bel canto, the singing was powerful and her presence stunning!
—
Eira Kotoneva
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Uusi SaimaaOropesas erste Norma
In Savonlinna konnte das Publikum Oropesas musikalische und technische Belcanto-Kunst nahezu in Bestform genießen. Es ist stets ein Vergnügen, derart sauber ausgeführte Koloraturen, perlende Triller und eine atemberaubende „messa di voce“ zu hören. Selbst nach den sieben Londoner Puritani-Vorstellungen vor wenigen Wochen bleibt die schiere stimmliche Gesundheit von Oropesas Sopran eines der bemerkenswertesten Pfunde, mit dem diese Sängerin wuchern kann.
In Savonlinna, the audience was able to enjoy Oropesa's musical and technical bel canto artistry at almost its very best. It is always a pleasure to hear such impeccably executed coloratura, sparkling trills, and a breathtaking messa di voce. Even after the seven London Puritani performances just a few weeks ago, the sheer vocal health of Oropesa's soprano remains one of the most remarkable assets this singer possesses.
—
Hugh Canning
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Oper! MagazinSavonlinna, entre verde y noches blancas en el país de la música
Algunos preferirán mayor calidez y densidad de timbre pero lo cierto es que, también en esta oportunidad, Oropesa compensó cualquier reparo con un fraseo de superlativa convicción dramática y un fiato incomparable en su expansión hacia agudos luminosamente proyectados en 'Casta Diva'. En su dúo final con el asertivo Pollione de John Osborne, Oropesa prefirió ser mostrarse más doliente que vengativa y, algo inusual para una soprano de coloratura negoció esos temibles trémolos de “Adalgisa fia punita” con buen apoyo y clarísima articulación.
Some will prefer greater warmth and density of timbre, but the truth is that, on this occasion too, Oropesa made up for any reservation with phrasing of superlative dramatic conviction and an incomparable breath in its expansion toward luminously projected high notes in 'Casta Diva'. In her final duet with John Osborne's assertive Pollione, Oropesa chose to appear more grieving than vengeful and — something unusual for a coloratura soprano — negotiated those fearsome tremolos of 'Adalgisa fia punita' with solid support and crystal-clear articulation.
—
Agustín Blanco Bazán
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Mundo ClásicoSavonlinna Opera Festival 2026: Breathtaking views and a soprano at the peak of her powers
It requires a soprano at the peak of her powers and believable as a high priestess and young mother at the same time. So, at 42, Oropesa is perfect. This is one of the most vocally challenging roles in opera, but Oropesa has the range and agility to make those demands sound an entirely natural consequence of the libretto.
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Simon Mundy
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The IndependentAnsatzlos in den Belcanto-Olymp
Zum mächtvollen Begrüßungschor ihrer Druiden schreitet sie mit der Würde einer Oberpriesterin die Olavinlinna-Innenhoftreppe herunter, ihre ersten Worte an den Chor (und ihr Publikum) sind schlank und dabei raumfüllend, klar, mit natürlicher Autorität. Den folgenden großen Norma-Hit Casta Diva legt sie nicht staatstragend-langsam an, sondern emotional und dennoch schlicht: Norma kommt ihrer rituellen Pflicht ohne Pomp nach. Das gelingt Oropesa so grandios, dass ihr das finnische Publikum fast italienisch wird und sie – das ist hier untypisch – in die Schlussakkorde der Arie hinein feiert.
She descends the Olavinlinna courtyard steps to greet the Druids' welcoming chorus with the bearing of a high priestess; her first phrases to chorus and audience are lean yet full, clear, naturally commanding. Her Casta Diva is not slow and monumental but emotional and unadorned, and it lands so completely that the normally reserved Finnish audience turns audibly Italian, applauding straight into the aria's final chords.
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Stephan Knies
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Opernwelt