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Believe it or not, Kansas City’s Lyric Opera has never, in its 53-year history, previously performed an opera by the Italian bel canto master Vincenzo Bellini.  That oversight, however, will be rectified with the Lyric Opera’s performances of Bellini’s best-known work, Norma, featuring soprano Brenda Harris in the title role. 

The three principal composers of the bel canto period of Italian opera composition were Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini.  While the very term bel canto (meaning “beautiful singing”) usually conjures up images of elaborate vocal pyrotechnics, Bellini’s version of the style preferred a simpler style of melody, bringing out the emotions of the characters more than simply putting on display the singers’ vocal agility.

Nowhere is this on better display than in Norma, which features not only one of the soprano repertoire’s most famous and recognizable arias, “Casta diva,” but also a magnificent duet between soprano and mezzo-soprano, a tenor aria for the ages, and a terrific trio of soprano, mezzo soprano and tenor that ranks among the greatest compositions for three voices in all of Italian opera.

Bellini had many admirers in subsequent generations.  Giuseppe Verdi, the great maestro of the next generation of Italian composers, used to tell students to study the operas of Bellini if they wanted to learn how to write beautiful and dramatic melodies.  His great rival Richard Wagner of the German school was also, ironically, a fan of Bellini and produced more operas by Bellini than any other composer during his years as an opera conductor.

Norma tells a story of a romantic love triangle played against the backdrop of ancient Gaul, involving a Roman proconsul, Pollione, and his affairs with two priestesses of the temple, Norma and her aide Adalgisa. As a vivid portrayal of dramatic content, the opera served as a precursor to many of the later dramatic operas of Verdi.

In addition to the soprano Harris, who performed just last season for the Lyric Opera in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the opera features Lyric Opera newcomer Laura Vlasak Nolen, a mezzo-soprano who sings regularly with the Metropolitan Opera, and tenor Rafael Davila, familiar to Lyric Opera audiences from his turn as Cavaradossi in last season’s Tosca.

Lyric Opera artistic director Ward Holmquist should be credited for being willing to tackle this challenging but rewarding piece, and the thirst of Kansas City-based Bellini music lovers should be sated at last.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Norma
Saturday, November 6 at 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Lyric Theatre
11^th and Central Streets, Downtown Kansas City, MO 
For tickets call 816-471-7344 or online at www.kcopera.org

Video republished by permission of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Don Dagenais of the Kansas City Lyric Opera Guild (and KCM contributor) previews the Company's anticipated return to the bel canto repertoire with Norma by Vincenzo Bellini.

Top photo: Brenda Harris as Norma. Photo by Louise Leblanc.

By Don Dagenais

City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor

A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony.  He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony. 

Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera).  He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.

In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization.  He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations.  When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.

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