Burry Port Opera's production this year will be Bellini's Norma.
Performances are Wednesday 31st October, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rdNovember.
All performances start at 7pm at Burry Port Memorial Hall.
Norma was first performed in 1831; it is an opera in two acts.
The production at Burry Port will be the second time the society has performedNorma; the previous production was in 1979.
Story:
A secret love unites Norma, a Druid priestess with Pollione the Roman Proconsul,father of her two children. Pollione has grown tired of the aging Druid and hasfallen in love with Adalgisa a young temple virgin. Despite Adalgisa 's piety andvirtue she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa in her innocence tells
Norma of her love. Norma curses Pollione for his deceit and treachery.
In her trauma Norma contemplates killing her two children in preference toabandoning them to Adalgisa, but in her love for them she finally consignsthem to the care of Adalgisa. When Pollioni arrives to take Adalgisa and thetwo children to Rome, Norma denounces him. When he refuses to forsakeAdalgisa he is seized by the Druids to be burnt on a pyre. Norma blamesherself equally as guilty. As Pollione is led to the pyre Norma also ascendsto die with her lover.
Cast:
Norma - Adele O'Neill, local girl from Pontarddulais, a firm favourite with Burry Port.
Adalgisa - Emanuela Barazia, started her career as a soloist singingRosina in the Barber of Seville at the Gran Teatro La Venice.
Pollione - Philip O'Brien, a newcomer to Burry Port. he has performed in many operasincluding Nabucco, Carmen, The Bartered Bride and Tosca.
Orovesa (Priest) - Gavin Davies, no stranger to Burry Port, born in Cardiff, he hasperformed as soloist with many choirs an choral societies throughout the UKand internationally. Also numerous opera roles fromBritten to Verdi.
Pictures of past performances La Traviata and Elisir D'Amore.