Soaring voices, stumbling direction: the turmoil of Norma at La Scala

Marina Rebeka (Norma)

Norma

Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (Adalgisa) and Freddie De Tommaso (Pollione)

Michele Pertusi (Oroveso) and chorus

By Laura Servidei, 29 June 2025

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“Rebeka's... coloratura was both crisp and commanding, her high notes gleaming”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 27 June 2025

Bellini, Norma

Teatro alla Scala

Fabio Luisi, Conductor

Olivier Py, Director

Pierre-André Weitz, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Bertrand Killy, Lighting Designer

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Marina Rebeka, Norma

Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Adalgisa

Freddie De Tommaso, Pollione

Michele Pertusi, Oroveso

Paolo Antognetti, Flavio

Ivo Bauchiero, Choreography

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.