Shirley Verrett as Norma - Casta Diva 1978

[@WilsonWatt-q2e]

I am always astounded by Verrett. Interestingly I saw her at the Ravinia Summer Music Festival on a couple of years earlier when she was singing Adalgisa to Sills Norma in concert performance. That performance, with those two singers, was more dramatic and moving emotionally than the several staged performances of Norma I have seen.

[@bubbadeaux1671]

I saw Verrett sing Norma in this MET production. I was in the nose bleed section. It was one of the most exciting things I have ever heard. Her Casta Diva was superb. Her acting sublime. The power of her voice was astounding. My performance at the MET was a matinee of "Il Trovatore" with Pavarotti, Scotto, and Verrett as Azucena. The range of Verrett was like no other singer. What a legacy she has left us all.

[@СветланаКоломыйченко-ц1ж]

Я вам завидую!!!

[@carmeloserafin5101]

Qui la cantante che è sempre stata all'altezza dei ruoli che affrontava....si dimostra un'Artista inarrivabile per Pathos...e carica Emotiva....Grandissima interprete Verdiana...Rossiniana..Donizettiana...ecc ecc non aveva limiti. All'apice della sua conoscenza affronta Norma di Bellini...dopo averla omaggiata con un'infinità di Adalgisa; superbamente con tutte le Norme della sua generazione che della precedente, con un'intelligenza che sembra raccogliere Tutta un'esperienza Quasi unica su tutti i palcoscenici mondiali . Questa aria Sublime; mai come qui risulta aulica e scolpita nel suo oro vocale che la rende in tutta la sua epicità. La Verret porta la sacerdotessa druidica al confronto con l''ara nella sacra selva; con una preghiera che anticipa Tutto il romanticismo, tanto da sembrare scritta per appartenere ad un'arena greca.....Bellini è nativo della Magna Grecia...e così celebra questa Figura alchemica e umanissima di donna innamorata del suo Invasore romano... nel psicologia che il Desiderio degli dei silvestri, abitanti dei suoi boschi, abitino un Olimpo o il Parnaso gallico. Norma/Verret li vuole schiodare alla vendetta; su Pollione che l'ha tradita. Come nuova Medea...(.figura che lei ha affrontato nella versione di Cherubini, in maniera convincente .a Cagliari). Ascoltata trenta volte in un repertorio da Paura....avevo con lei un rapporto speciale, da quando alla Scala ebbe una serata difficile dove un gruppetto di razzisti...l'aveva disturbata dopo l'esecuzione magnifica della sua aria ; "Non temer d'un Basso affetto " nell' Assedio di Corinto.In Camerino a nome di molti melomani andai a scusarmi per loro...e infatti nelle repliche che grazie a lei ascoltai gratis...finita l'aria, il pubblico l'applaudiva in un boato che faceva sobbalzare le colonne della sala del Piermarini..preludio di una collaborazione che durò con la Scala per sempre...memorabile il suo Macbeth con Abbado e il Requiem di Verdi sempre Abbado apice della sua carriera che poi non ebbe mai più ombre.Si rifiutò di fare Norma alla Scala perchè troppo impegnata...ma si tolse lo sfizio di cantarla in Sicilia dove alla prima c'era mezza europa melomane...con biglietti venduti a peso d'oro. Che ricordi ...come quello ad Ischia dove si presentò con un omaggio tutto a autori del 900 americani.Un trionfo d'addio al suo pubblico italiano che dalla Carmen di Spoleto...con T. Schippers non l'aveva più abbandonata...a Firenze ,noi poveri in canna dormivano da un frate melomane...per applaudirla nella riscoperta delle regine Donizettiane al Maggio musicale fiorentino ecc ecc Allora sia Spoleto che a Firenze c'era il gota mondiale e lei sempre sugli scudi. Avrebbe potuto cantare magnificamente anche Wagner...e lo fece in un recital memorabile. Tempi che credo difficilissimo si possano ripetere...Che gioia i ricordi.Amen

[@belindawilliams3728]

Your English content is somewhat difficult to comprehend. Yet I perceive that you support her performance inspite of mixed attitudes about African American opera singers in the European theater of high arts. I applaud your deference and respect for her talent and personal dignity.

[@ciociosan]

She's my favorite Norma. I forget she's Verrett when she sings this role, but I hear, see, and even feel the character. Verrett portrayed Norma as a complex woman in love, a mentor and a sister to Adalgisa, a leader of her people, a daughter, and a mother. It is everything.

[@giuseppinascapparone3303]

Splendida NORMA ! Superba voce, un incanto ascoltarla!

[@charlesbrown1934]

Such artistry. She was always exciting to watch on the stage, and her voice was extraordinary.

[@henrifrombarcelona]

Shirley Verrett is the only post Callas soprano! Her versatility, her technique, her gorgeous voice and look, her sensibility turned her into what you are missing so much now!! Can you believe Cecialia Bartoli is now singing Norma in Salzburg!!! Shirley !! please come back!!!

[@alfredoloyola921]

Louis Désiré bartolli is a fake mezzo!!!

[@rojorohr4723]

I know it may sound rude, but to me La Bartolli always sounds like a flock of hens beinh chased by a fox inside their pen...

[@unclealand]

And her voice was more pleasant than that of Callas.

[@peterd.272]

Ce récitatif est avec Verrett un "foyer" continu, un feu inextinguible ! Yes, she suited superbly for the Bellini style. But for which style was she unsuitable ? C'était aussi une très grande musicienne !!!

[@marialuciakaufmann4591]

Shirley Verrett ma très belle Callas noire, superbe mezzo soprano qui fut Amnéris et Aida, Adalgisa et Norma, Ulrica et Amelia et même, Cassandre et Didon des Troyens (au Met), une somptueuse Dalila et dirrigée par Claudio Abbado la plus grande Lady Macbeth!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

I'd argue that Callas was the greatest Lady Macbeth, but since she never recorded it in the studio (there are a couple of great live recordings), I'll concede. I do love the Abbado Macbeth though, alongside the Muti and Leinsdorf (the latter mainly for Leonard Warren and Carlo Bergonzi).

[@nicolimperi9758]

I couldn't agree more

[@tadeuszvonmoltke9648]

When it was my good fortune to hear Miss Verrett's revelatory Adalgisa two of the four times she performed it at The Met in Spring of 1976 (oncw in the theatre, once on the broadcast), I finally experienced the complete portrayal that was possible in opera. And then, almost immediately following, her transcendental first Norma in June on The Met tour. Unforgettable. Irreplaceable.

[@debbiejohnson2789]

You were so lucky and smart to be there! God bless you, Sir!

[@lassinantti]

OMG, what a lovey and spectacular performance. Thank you Foropera.

[@christopherbrooks948]

Still fabulous after all these years!

[@charlesbrown1934]

Thank you, thank you, foropera, for putting the evidence out there. Shirley Verrett's unusual vocal range and prowess confuses a lot of people. They don't know what box to put her in and, therefore, "get it twisted". Thank you for providing the clarifying evidence.

[@alfredoloyola921]

Charles Brown she said she was a soprano from the beginning But was force to sings mezzo roles. Then she contuined Working on her voice and became a soprano that she really Was. In her own words. I had master classes with her.

[@debbiejohnson2789]

@@alfredoloyola921 oh, Alfredo, how lucky you were to have had those master classes with her!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

What a pity she never recorded Norma in the studio!

[@susannevollmer2347]

On stage is always the best - with acting and the magic of the stage!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@susannevollmer2347 I agree, but a studio recording would have introduced her Norma to whole other legion of fans

[@ciociosan]

to me, her norma is perfect. her norma is a complete WOMAN.

[@СветланаКоломыйченко-ц1ж]

Неподражаемо!!! До слёз!

[@christopherbrooks948]

She was spectacular in this role!

[@delmoral73]

Excellent Casta Diva by Shirley Verret......

[@christopherbrooks948]

This performance is still spectacular.

[@madamdorothy4861]

SPECTACULAR! One of the best renditions of this aria. BRAVA!

[@MAPIAKALLAS]

i love her resitativo here she is great brava

[@waterfordwinstons]

Thank you foropera for this posting, I love it she is so clear, brava Diva.

[@dubbelhenke854]

Spectacular. Awsome.

[@Nacidodelmar]

Il recitativo that precedes the aria left her almost exhausted. Callas always kept alert not to leave all the forces in the recitative. This is almost a vivid example of being " la vittima" of recitativo BUT! She managed to flash somehow.

[@fuletiopia]

That's what's infectuos about Verret: one moment you feel she's losing the grip, accelerating for lack of breath, shrilled high notes and flawd diction (the beginning of cavatina after a spectacular recitativo), the moment after you hear her voice reacquiring softeness and beauty, again with her unforgettable silvery tone and marvelous pianissimi

[@luismanuel-tena]

Stunning! Bravaaaaaaaaaaa

[@АндрейАлексеев-б6ж]

The greatest for all time👋👋👋🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@christopherbrooks948]

Fantastico!!

[@TreblesBasses]

BREATH TAKING!

[@jean-paulbertrand713]

sublime Verrett

[@georgescott3652]

Stunning!

[@Mario292752]

Wonderful

[@Samuel6969ify]

Ecco una grandissima che niente ha da invidiare alla grandissima Callas ed in Macbeth riesce forse a superare la Divina sopratutto nella romanza di ingresso.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

For a mezzo-soprano, a very good Norma.

[@ramongerman6440]

She is dramatic soprano and mezzo she can do the two roles that why the strength of her voice

[@numetutelare]

she was also a great Falcon...

[@majahandlovu2050]

She's a natural soprano , her teachers stated her as a Soprano and she was trained as a Soprano she just chose to sing mezzo roles

[@numetutelare]

@@majahandlovu2050 yes and Falcon is a soprano singing also as mezzo...

[@necessarydiva]

RIP

[@mwdot12]

@ciociosan Yes! Her Norma is THE Norma! She is FABULOUS!

[@09avenger]

This is very good!!!! I like it even better than Callas.

[@purisermonisamator]

Oh, really? It's very good indeed, but I dare say you are too kind.

[@stephenVocalist9480]

Callas is revered for bringing her "Norma" to Chicago; and "Creating" Lyric Opera of Chicago, with its Premiere. [It is-said that Callas "escaped" the Civic Opera Building by Speedboat 🚤 on the Chicago River, to elude an IRS Agent, who was haunting-her for Back-Taxes. Lyric paid Principal Singers in-cash; & the IRS knew-it. Perhaps, the Agent turned a blind-eye - so he could return to the Opera House - nightly - to hear Mme. Callas do "Norma." Hope-so !]

[@FISTRIG]

SUBLIME

[@germanquintero10121946]

MARAVILLOSA

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Does anyone know the rest of the cast/conductor?

[@LiubovShrivastava]

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@hrvoje14]

Adore Verrett. She is spectacular in the recitative, but a little heavy-handed in the aria, imho.

[@rodolfoalonso7568]

Las comparaciones son mediocres de mal gusto y frustrante cuando uno quiere hacer ver la equivocación a otra persona el comparar a esta gran Diva SHIRLEY VERRETT con la Callas es una estupidez la técnica de la VERRETT es superior en todo el fraseo la emisión la colocación la proyección la columna hacia la nota es templada la línea de canto es perfecta si la Callas hubiera tenido un diez porciento de está técnica todavía cantaría y no es una locura pues el ejemplo más grande es la excelsa soprano MAGDA OLIVERO que a los 100 años todavía canto la leyenda de Callas estriba en su vida personal no en su canto extridente desafinado la popularidad la Diva SHIRLEY VERRETT es una de las grandes sopranos de mediados del siglo XX quien puede criticar su papel de Tosca su Isolda y otros personajes que le dieron la inmortalidad en la ópera su interpretación de Norma es magistral la exquisita técnica le permite abordar cualquier personaje eso es un cantante eso es una técnica aunado al don de la voz con la que se nace la Diva SHIRLEY VERRETT está más haya de comparaciones absurdas y necias

[@ramongerman6440]

Totalmente de acuerdo

[@Glenn-n1d]

Splendid voice!..but not the best Casta Diva I've heard!..Callas was Sublime.. Montserrat was Amazing!

[@foropera]

Yes, but Norma is not just the "casta Diva" which is the part, let's say, the most lyrical and "sopranoish" of the work. Verrett adapts her Eboli wild voice, dark and sometimes hoarse and harsh, to this prayer. I think her voice is certainly close to the high mezzo of Giuditta Pasta, and is more convincing in the lowest or more dramatic pages of Norma.

[@josephhapp9]

Dare I say better than

[@numetutelare]

non osi... anche se la tentazione è grande e legittima resta una tentazione... Cordialità

[@expecionel]

the most legendary Norma ever was Radmila Bakocevic...she was one of the greatest sopranos ever

[@artdanks]

Never heard of her.

[@waynehentley4332]

@@artdanks Now you have!!

[@lucaleonetti183]

.... Che peccato,eppur ha una voce potente..anche un ottima tecnica... Ma la potenza e la tecnica senza controllo e senza interpretazione a cosa servono?

[@michaelroberts6894]

She just didn’t have IT for Norma . She excelled in much else but not bel canto , sorry!

[@foropera]

Maybe that this aria of Casta diva is less fluid that others, because it is written differently than the rest of the role (higher and lyric), but to me Verrett is a belcantist singer. Don't you know her as Elisabetta II in Maria Stuarda, Neocles in Assedio di Corinto, Giovanna Seymour in Anna Bolena, and Sinaïde in Rossini's Moïse? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5KZfHukpdKIY6c