”Åsa Jäger brings impressive dramatic weight to Senta. Hers is a Wagnerian voice with enormous promise and she is absolutely on top of it … She has the discipline and depth to leave power in reserve for when the drama ratchets up, and thrills in the final emotional torrents…”

“Two major figures, both of them tour-de-force roles, stand out from the cast. Not surprisingly Kenneth Kellogg in the title role rises to the top. Omnipresent as a character… the demands of the role are huge, and Kellogg proved worthy of the task. His sizable voice projected to great effect over the large orchestration, and his dramatic portrayal of the enigmatic leader was convincing in all of its permutations. One never tired of watching him. As Elijah Muhammad, Joshua Stewart stood out from the very first for his impressive clarion vocality. The voice sounded glorious in all registers, and especially in the top range, where the tessitura was challenging.”

“Baritone Nmon Ford struck a charismatic presence as the American Consul, Sharpless. He was vocally a standout, and his costume included a cape with an electric green lining.”

“This production of “Norma” was a triumph for director Keturah Stickann. The set was a gorgeous mountainous backdrop with stone walls and excellent lighting provided by lighting designer Mary Shabatura. The effect was cinematic and further immersed the audience into the production. Stickann directed “Turandot” at Palm Beach Opera in 2020 and has a talent for staging clear and meaningful character relationships, effectively communicating the dramaturgy with intent. Stickann also never mounts a production without a well-choreographed chorus that demonstrates purposeful movements and actions that, in this production of “Norma,” used every inch of the vast expanse of the raked stage.”