Getting Stabbed at Norma

Our fourth performance of Bellini's "Norma" at the San Francisco Opera went well this evening except for Robert O'Connor getting stabbed with a long, sharp stick by a fellow supernumerary, a French space case who doesn't work well with others.



Philippe seems to have his own drummer, which can be dangerous on a dark stage with people running around carrying weapons. That's him on the right hanging onto the ugly "scorched forest" set. I'm the one looking mean on the left and our dead Roman compatriot is bleeding in the middle.



For the record, the two divas singing Norma and Adalgisa, Catherine Naglestad and Irina Mishura respectively, are getting better as the run of nine performances goes on. Right before each show starts, in the hallway off of stage right, you can walk by Norma's dressing room and the two are warming up together with their duets. It sounds too sweet for words, and their duets really are the heart of the opera.

If you're thinking of going, wait until Sara Jobin arrives with the sixth performance. The present conductor, though he looks typecast for the role of handsome Italian conductor, is still taking the music too sluggishly. It will be good to have some youthful energy in the pit.