Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma” at Yerevan Opera Theatre
Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma opera will be performed at Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiaryan in Yerevan on April 4, after a long break. The opera is dedicated to the late Armenian operatic tenor Gegham Grigoryan, who passed away on March 23.
The opera is directed by Boris Hayrapetyan and conducted by Italian conductor Gianluca Marcianò. The cast comprises of Marine Deinyan, Diana Harutyunyan, Hayk Tigranyan, Poghos Beazbekyan, Hovhannes Nersesyan, Roza Hovsepyan, Arevik Gyulbudaghyan, Sona Varpetyan, Sargis Aghamalyan, Hovhannes Nazaryan, and Liparit Avetisyan.
One of the actresses playing Norma, Marine Deinyan confessed during a press conference before the rehearsal, that the character is rather difficult and emotional, and that in vocal terms Norma is one of the most difficult operas in the world.
Italian conductor Gianluca Marcianò said that even if he hadn’t worked much with Gegham Grigoryan, yet he had learnt a lot from the great artist.
According to Gianluca Marcianò, a great work has been done and amazing artists are included in the performance.
Bellini’s Norma is a tragedia lirica opera in two acts. It was first produced at La Scala in Milan on December 26, 1831. The opera is considered Bellini’s masterpiece and a leading example of bel canto genre.
Norma’s character was played by famous opera singer Gohar Gasparyan for decades. The opera was performed in Yerevan twice, in 1975 and 2001.