The National Centre for the Performing Arts' production of Vincenzo Bellini's Norma is set to return to the Beijing stage from Aug 19 to 22 for its third run, bringing together an international cast and creative team for a renewed interpretation of one of the masterpieces of the bel canto tradition.
Italian conductor Marco Alibrando will lead the NCPA Orchestra, while choreographer and revival director Alessandra Panzavolta will work with a cast featuring international and Chinese artists.
Ahead of the performances, the production opened a rehearsal session to the media on Aug 10, offering a glimpse of the second act. Chinese cast members Gu Wenmeng, Guo Zizhao, Guan Zhijing and Wang Jing appeared alongside the NCPA Chorus, showcasing some of the opera's most dramatic passages.
At the heart of the opera is Norma, a high-ranking Gallic priestess whose inner world is marked by love, betrayal and sacrifice. She loves Pollione, a Roman proconsul, but is devastated when he betrays her. Her emotional journey moves from pain and anger to despair, and ultimately toward forgiveness and self-sacrifice.
During the rehearsal, soprano Gu brought an intense emotional commitment to the title role, conveying Norma's shifting emotions and profound inner struggle with precision.
Tenor Guo plays Pollione, a conflicted character caught in a complicated relationship with Norma and Adalgisa. His character embodies human weakness and desire, making the role particularly demanding both dramatically and vocally.
Bass Guan, who also appeared in the production's first two runs, returns as Oroveso. His commanding presence and mature vocal interpretation brought a sense of dignity and authority to the character.
While the singers and chorus were immersed in stage rehearsals, Alibrando and musicians from the NCPA Orchestra were simultaneously engaged in intensive musical rehearsals.
The opening performance on Aug 19 will coincide with Qixi, the traditional Chinese festival celebrating love. The timing adds a special resonance to Bellini's tragedy, which unfolds through intertwined themes of passion, betrayal and sacrifice. For Beijing audiences, the production promises to turn the ancient story into a moving musical meditation on love that transcends life and death.
First performed in 1831, Norma is among Bellini's most celebrated works, and the opera is renowned for its lyrical purity and demanding vocal writing.
More than a century after its premiere, Norma remains a staple of major opera houses around the world. The NCPA's original production marked the first time the complete work was presented on the Chinese opera stage in its entirety.
Using symbolism and a sculptural aesthetic, the staging transforms ancient Gaul under Roman rule into a mysterious and visually striking world of dark forests, solemn temples and ancient Druid imagery.
