Norma, Callas’s favorite role, which she sang a total of 92 times on stage – more than in any other opera – returns to Herodion, where Callas herself sang in 1944 and 1957, and in Greece, the country where she gave a from Norma’s most legendary performances, in 1960 in Epidaurus.

The cultural organization “Lykofos” honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas presents on August 28 and 30 at the Herodio the historical opera “Norma” by the favorite composer of the great Greek soprano Vincenzo Bellini, directed by Tom Wolff – an international production with a all-star team of performers and contributors from around the world,

The famous French director Tom Wolfe, who has become the most important collector and specialist of the work of Maria Callas with the multi-award winning documentary “Maria by Callas”, after the sold out performances of Monica Bellucci who captivated the Athens audience with the reading of letters of Maria Callas at Herodeion in 2021 under his directorial instructions, collaborates again with the cultural organization “Lykofos” and returns to Greece, this time with a brand new production dedicated to the great celebration.

All-star cast

For this great undertaking, Tom Wolfe assembled an excellent international cast.

– The famous Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury in the title role, who in 2022 was named by the Dallas Opera “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” and with appearances at the operas of Chicago, Dallas, Tokyo and Montreal,

– In the role of Pollione, the internationally acclaimed Greek tenor Marios Frangoulis, holder of the “Maria Callas” scholarship and with appearances in the most important theaters of the world (La Scala in Milan, Carnegie Hall in New York, Novaya Opera in Moscow and Royal Albert Hall in London ). He collaborated with Montserrat Caballé, Maria Guleghina and Angela Gheorgiu.

– In the role of Adalgisa is the American soprano Theresa Carlomagno, while Oroveso, Norma’s father, is performed by the acclaimed young bass player Sava Vemić.

Conducted by American conductor Eugene Kohn, who accompanied Maria Callas on the piano during her Masterclass at the Juilliard School in New York in 1971 and was a student of the legendary conductor Fausto Cleva. In his unique career he has conducted some of the most historic opera stars such as Renata Tebaldi, Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.

The artistic team is completed by the great choreographer Ersi Pitta and the leading Greek stage designer and costume designer Yiannis Metzikof.
The Mixed Choir “Fons Musicalis” under the direction of Kostis Konstandaras participates.
The production is under the auspices of the Paris-based Maria Callas Foundation, which was co-founded in 2017 by close friends and collaborators of La Divina and Tom Wolfe and is today the largest international organization aiming to defend and promote the life of the great soprano.