Norma

Bellini (Artist), Gui (Artist), Cigna (Artist), Stignani (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 1995)
• Label: Grammofono 2000
• ASIN: B000003UGV
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,795,825 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Norma, opera: Sinfonia

2. Norma, opera: Act One: Ite Sul Colle... Dell'aura Tua Profetica

3. Norma, opera: Act One: Svanir Le Voci!

4. Norma, opera: Act One: Meco All'altar Di Venere

5. Norma, opera: Act One: Odi?... I Suoi Riti A Compiere

6. Norma, opera: Act One: Me Protegge, Me Difende

7. Norma, opera: Act One: Norma Viene...

8. Norma, opera: Act One: Sediziose Voci

9. Norma, opera: Act One: Casta Diva

10. Norma, opera: Act One: Fine Al Rito, E Il Sacro Bosco

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Norma, opera: Act One: Ma Di' ... L' Amato Giovane?

2. Norma, opera: Act One: No, Non Tremare, O Perfido!

3. Norma, opera: Act One: Oh DI Qual Sei Tu Vittima, Perfido!... Or Basti!

4. Norma, opera: Act Two: Introduzione

5. Norma, opera: Act Two: Dormono Entrambi!

6. Norma, opera: Act Two: Me Chiami, O Norma?

7. Norma, opera: Act Two: Deh! Con Te, Con Te Li Prendi

8. Norma, opera: Act Two: Mira, O Norma

9. Norma, opera: Act Two: Non Parti?

10. Norma, opera: Act Two: Guerrieri! A Voi Venire

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense Norma, April 23, 2003

By 

Raymond M. Bercse - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Norma (Audio CD)

This was the first documented complete recording of Norma made for Parlophone in September 1937 and is the most intense and dramatic on disc. Gina Cigna as the protagonist meets all of the demands of this fiendishly difficult role with aplomb. Her dark and powerful voice runs the gamut of emotions from angry outbursts to melting tenderness. Casta Diva has a calm intensity and in contrast, Ah! Bello a me ritorna is tossed off with great abandon.

Critics in the 1930's thought that Cigna used a veristic approach to Norma and was deemed inappropriate. Norma is not just a chaste goddess but a human being with feelings. Singing with expression is equally important as singing the notes. These so called critics evidentally had no concept of what interpreting a role meant. Listen to the words, 'I figli uccidi' which precedes the aria 'Teneri figli.' Cigna displays incredible emotion and completely arouses the listeners sympathy.
She employs menacing chest tones in 'In mia man alfin tu sei' and later offsets this violent moment with plangent tones in 'Deh non volerli vittima.' Cigna's account of Norma will live on in the history of recorded annals as a major accomplishment.

Ebe Stignani's Adalgisa is exemplary. Her beautiful voice with its velvet and wonderful top notes are a joy to hear. Cigna and Stignani sing 'Mira O Norma' in the original key, and their high C's ring out with clarion brilliance. Giovanni Breviario as Pollione has somewhat of a dry voice but sings with conviction.
Tancredi Pasero as Oroveso is commanding and sings with richly dense tones. Vittorio Gui establishes the right mood from the onset and draws a mixture of urgency and delicacy from the orchestra. The sound is clear with occasional surface noise stemming from the 78's. Add this Norma to your collection.