Washington National Opera on the Radio

This is a reminder of what I announced here on September 19, for readers living in the Washington area. On Saturdays for the next seven weeks, operas from last year's season of the Washington National Opera will be broadcast on WETA (90.9 FM), leading up to the opening of the live broadcast season from the Met. Right now, I am listening to their production of Vincenzo Bellini's Norma, the first in the broadcast schedule.

Emmanuel Villaume conducted a cast including Irina Mishura (Adalgisa), Richard Margison (Pollione), Kyle Ketelsen (Oroveso), and most spectacularly Armenian soprano Hasmik Papian in the ultimately demanding title role, which requires some two hours of almost constant singing presence on the stage. Here are some reviews of the production, staged in DAR Constitution Hall in Fall 2003:

• Kate Wingfield, Powerful Priestess: Norma at the Washington Opera (Metro Weekly, October 16)
  
• Katherine Cartwright, Washington Opera's 'Norma' Opens (The Hoya, October 17)
  
• John C. Shulson, Washington's First Norma (ConcertoNet.com, October 18)