SOPRANO HASMIK PAPIAN BRINGS HER LONG-AWAITED NORMA TO MET
By Matthew Westphal
PlaybillArts, NY
Nov 12 2007
Hasmik Papian, the Armenian soprano who is the most talked-about
Norma in the world today, sings the part at the Metropolitan Opera
for the first time this evening, in the first of four performances
in this fall’s revival of the Bellini opera at the house.
Norma, considered one of the most difficult roles in the entire
soprano repertoire, has become central to Papian’s career: she has
sung the Druid priestess at houses from the Vienna State Opera and
Netherlands Opera to the Washington National Opera and the companies
of Detroit, Denver, Baltimore, Warsaw, Turin, Marseilles and Montreal
(among others).
This 2006 comment from The Denver Post’s Kyle MacMillan is typical of
the critical reception Papian’s portrayal receives: "Most important,
she adroitly handles the role’s nonstop vocal demands – the two-octave
leaps, devilishly intricate ornamentations and fast-shifting dynamics –
with near-perfect articulation and stunning phrasing, every note in
place." And Philip Kennicott wrote in The Washington Post in 2003:
"Her singing is gorgeous. The coloratura display was accurate and on
pitch, and well woven into the larger, lyrical fabric of the role."
Papian sings Norma – with co-stars Dolora Zajick, Franco Farina and
Vitalij Kowaljow – this evening and November 16, 19 and 23 at the
Metropolitan Opera House. Maria Guleghina – who just finished a run
as Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s version of Shakespeare’s "Scottish play"
– takes over the role for four more performances November 25 through
December 7. Information and tickets are available at
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