2891-2 NORMA (Bellini)

This is the first I've heard this exceptional performance was preserved ... and I'm going to purchase it. I was present at the Bushnell that fabulous night! Troyanos was to sing opposite Miss Sills. Six days prior, Troyanos had to cancelled. It was announced, my dear friend, Patricia Brooks would be Troyanos's replacement at Beverly's request. "Who is this 'Patricia Brooks'?" everyone asked. They soon learned. Pat prepared the coloratura role in 6 days! By the time Pat & Beverly sang their "Miro, o Norma" the audience didn't know who to applaud. It was a standing ovation. NEVER has there been a performance as excellent as this. (And this was in Hartford, CT!) Sills, Pat, John Alexander were NOT "MET" stars at the time. These were singers with NYCO (a superb company.) This was THE BEST performance I've ever witness. If you're a NORMA lover; a Sills lover - THIS is the performance you NEED to own. Recordings with Souliotis, Caballe, Callas are fantastic, but this "live" performance with Sills, Brooks & Alexander leave all others in the dust.(Well, maybe not Souliotis & Del Monico. That's a must own, also.) You don't know what you're missing if you don't add this performance to your collection.

These discs are beautifully transferred,as good as a studio recording with the frisson of a live performance. Michalsky as Oroveso sings very well,he is a name new to me,I wouldn't mind hearing him again,John Alexander is one of my favourite Tenors,not often found on commercial discs,he has a magnificent tecnique able to cope with the tesitura,and with thrilling high notes,Patricia Brooks is a soprano Adalgisa,as written,she sounds like a young priestess,unlike some.who however magnificently they sing,sound like Normas mother,hers is another voice we do not seem to have heard much of in the UK,I shall certainly look for other recordings of her, and now to Sills as Norma,I admit to having had in the past,the studio recording of hers on LP,and found her wanting in fullness of tone,but here in this performance she is there with the top portrayers of this very difficult role,her tone is full,her dramitic skills are to the fore,and the high notes are all ther,full, and I humbly apologise for doubting her in this role.If you like Norma,BUY IT BUY IT!