The second “episode” of Norma is now available for download at Unnatural Acts of Opera.

And speaking of Norma, can anyone confirm this story? It’s a regional production of the opera, sometime around the mid to late ’60s. The Adalgisa either learned the role in a big hurry or else was just congenitally not very bright (unusual for a mezzo).

Well, anyway, this mezzo made her entrance in Act 2, and Norma of course sang, “Adalgisa!” And then the mezzo greeted the two children, “Alma… Costanza!”

Yeah, I know, that sounds pretty apocryphal to me too.

Call for submissions: parterre box‘s new Talk of the Town

Call for submissions: parterre box‘s new Talk of the Town

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Call for submissions: parterre box‘s new Talk of the Town

parterre box is launching a new themed regular feature curated by our readers and opera fans across the world! We are asking for your favorite clips, recordings, and anecdotes to get people chatting, listening, and thinking.

From parterre box

parterre box is launching a new themed regular feature curated by our readers and opera fans across the world! We are asking for your favorite clips, recordings, and anecdotes to get people chatting, listening, and thinking.

From parterre box