Maria Callas sings Norma's final scene (1955)

Norma was sung once again by Maria Meneghini Callas. Mme. Callas, as it is known from her own statements, never reads the critiques that concern her, in order not to be influenced by opinions outside those of the public or her own artistic conscience. And this can be a good thing, provided of course that due note be taken of the public’s judgment, as Mme. Callas in fact does. The audience did appreciate a great deal of her interpretation during the first three scenes, but it wasn’t until the fourth and final scene that it showed its total admiration with long and enthusiastic cheering. When the drama reached its most intense excitement, namely in the last scene, the audience was enchanted by the singer’s greatness; and we don’t mind sharing the audience’s verdict. The duet “In mia mano alfin tu sei” (with Callas’s great insight, among other things, into the most artistically valid accent on the words “Pei figli tuoi”); and the final prayer “Deh! Non volerli vittime”, heard last night, remain among the deepest emotions we have ever felt in the theater. At the end of this very successful evening, the spectators lingered a long time in the theater to cheer Maestro Votto and all the singers; then they happily plunged once more into the thick fog, with Bellini’s melodies in their hearts. Review by Teodoro Celli in “Corriere Lombardo” December 8-9, 1955