Impressive production makes for compelling 'Norma' at Palm Beach Opera

Palm Beach Opera concluded its 62nd mainstage season Friday with a performance of Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma” at the Kravis Center. Continuing a season of changes, a cast substitution, due to illness, was announced for the role of Norma, which the indelible Angela Meade would now perform.

James Barbato, the acting general director of the company since the unexpected departure of David Walker, formally introduced the evening’s performance and announced the upcoming 2025 season — Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” — signaling a transition from the current season of change to one of standard fare.This production of “Norma” was a triumph for director Keturah Stickann. The set was a gorgeous mountainous backdrop with stone walls and excellent lighting provided by lighting designer Mary Shabatura. The effect was cinematic and further immersed the audience into the production. Stickann directed “Turandot” at Palm Beach Opera in 2020 and has a talent for staging clear and meaningful character relationships, effectively communicating the dramaturgy with intent.

Stickann also never mounts a production without a well-choreographed chorus that demonstrates purposeful movements and actions that, in this production of “Norma,” used every inch of the vast expanse of the raked stage.As the opera opens, Julius Caesar is waging war on the Celts in Gaul, and four armored Celts brandish swords while Celtic priests go about their work. Tenor Paolo Fanale made his Palm Beach Opera debut in this performance as the Roman general Pollione. In Pollione’s aria from Act One, Fanale held an impressive sustained high note, proving he was born to sing Bellini with stamina and brightness in a versatile voice. Tenor Devin Eatmon, as Pollione’s counterpart, Flavio, was a bright and spacious voice that was well-matched to Fanale’s timbre.Angela Meade, as Norma, entered the stage in the first act with a powerful soprano voice. Ashley Dixon was divine as Adalgisa and gave a sweet and sensitive performance that showed multifaceted character development as Adalgisa basks in the glow of new love, only to discover her lover’s betrayal. Dixon and Fanale demonstrated fantastic chemistry in their characters with a complex and beautiful duet scene as Pollione continued smoothly convincing Adalgisa to come with him to Rome. Stage movements in all scenes were intentional and elegantly communicated with authentic reactions and no boring “opera stance.” Fanale expertly portrayed a persuasive villain.There are several vocally demanding scenes in “Norma.” Act One was a dubious success in moments, but Act Two was a refreshed triumph from the start. Meade and Dixon shared an extensive duet scene with undeniably difficult and dependent vocal lines that required absolute trust in the performance. Executing a musical scene of this complexity is a feat when performers are filling in. Meade and Dixon conquered their scenes together, setting the tone for the second act and solidarity in their character relationships. Bass-baritone Nicolas Testé was a cavernous voice in the role of Oroveso. His character made several proclamations during scenes and shared a paternal relationship with the character of Norma.A couple of quirks in the second act included Norma’s headdress and the giant black spot that became a gong. The audience was perhaps anticipating a reference to the upcoming solar eclipse and became confused when it was used as a masking agent for the beautiful mountain set.

"Norma" is performed again tonight at 7:30 with its second cast of Marigona Qerkezi as Norma, Anne Marie Stanley as Adalgisa and Moíses Salazar as Pollione. The final performance of "Norma" is set for 2 p.m. Sunday with Meade, Dixon and Fanale. All shows are at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $25. Call 561-832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org.