Bellini’s Druidical drama Norma is given far less often on the operatic stages of the world than the musical riches of its score would suggest that it deserves. This arises in large part from the difficulty of finding singers up to the vocal challenges facing the soprano in the title role, every one of whom must bear comparison to Maria Callas, the great diva who made the part her own.

From Yvonne Howard’s Act I entrance as the eponymous High Priestess, singing the opera’s most famous (and most difficult) aria, the glorious hymn to the Moon, Casta Diva, it is clear that Opera Holland Park has a singer — and actress — fully up to the mark.

Twice heard in earlier OHP seasons as Fidelio’s Leonora, Howard possesses a voice of rich tone and pinpoint accuracy. That she holds back on delivery of the fioritura ornaments shows welcome restraint and wise judgment.

Such, alas, has not been shown in Norma’s choice of men. In Pollione (Joseph Wolverton) she has picked a man to rival Butterfly’s Pinkerton as the nastiest lead tenor in opera. This hated figure heads Gaul’s invading Roman army, which are here transformed — in director Olivia Fuchs’s largely successful updating — into American GIs.

Having fathered two secret children on Norma, he is now dumping her for a younger model, the priestess Adalgisa (Heather Shipp). This will prove a move fatal to them both.

The production is a high point of the OHP season, with all the singers and the City of London Sinfonia on fine form under conductor Peter Robinson.

Norma
Opera Holland Park
Until August 8
Tickets: 0300 999 1000, rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/operahollandpark