The newly premiered Norma awarded with long-lasting applauseFrom the theatre — 26. October 2025.
Vincenzo Bellini's Norma directed by Dora Ruždjak Podolski with Pier Giorgio Morandi as conductor premiered at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. The audience awarded the soloists, the Opera Chorus and Orchestra and the entire team of authors with long-lasting applause, confirming that this is a production that will certainly remain in the repertoire of the Zagreb Opera for a long time to come.
The main roles were performed by Martina Gresia, vocally exceptional and stage-impressive as Norma, and Tomislav Mužek, a guest of the Croatian National Theatre Opera in Zagreb season, who sang the role of Polione with great expression and strength. The role of Adalgisa was sung by Emilia Rukavina, who sang excellently and emotionally expressively, while Ivica Čikeš as Oroveso, Josipa Gvozdanić as Clotilde and Josip Švagelj as Flavius rounded out the ensemble with impressive performances.
The production team, along with director Dora Ruždjak Podolski, consisted of collaborators: set designer Paola Lugarić Benzia, costume designer Manuela Paladin Šabanović, choreographer Ana Mrak, and lighting designer Elvis Butković.
Bellini's Norma, one of the key works of bel canto, brought a contemporary, emotionally powerful, and scenically impressive reading to the Zagreb stage, which the audience recognized and rewarded with several minutes of applause, confirming that this new production represents a significant contribution to the repertoire and vitality of the opera ensemble of the central national theater.
A spectacular performance was held on Tuesday, October 28, when the role of Norma was sung by the Italian soprano Selena Zanetti, who has been delighting audiences across Europe for years, and is performing in Croatia for the first time.
