It’s been a busy week for State Opera SA and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra with four performances of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and a one-night-only production of Norma, a tragedia lirica in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini to a libretto by Felice Romano.

Two of opera’s most popular stars, Helena Dix and Teddy Tahu Rhodes, crossed the divide, taking leading roles in both productions.

State Opera South Australia’s Norma. Photo © Andrew Beveridge

Of Bellini’s 10 completed operas, this is considered his masterwork and Norma is often regarded as the pinnacle of the bel canto repertoire, placing huge demands on the singers, especially the leading lady, musically and dramatically. This is one where opera buffs still debate the merits of Maria Callas over Joan Sutherland or the Spanish singer Montserrat Caballé in the titular role.

For this performance, it is soprano Helena Dix who commands the stage as Norma. Dix has sung this role before, at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera in New York a few years ago, and for the Melbourne Opera back in 2019, and that depth of understanding underlines a superb...