Casta Diva Bellini - Royal Palace Amsterdam - Paula Bär-Giese soprano & pianist

PAULA BAR-GIESE SOPRANO & PIANIST
SCHEPENZAAL ROYAL PALACE AMSTERDAM
MEINCKE & PIETER MEIJER PIANO 1808

CASTA DIVA - Norma -- Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio (Norma, or The Infanticide) by Alexandre Soumet. First produced at La Scala on December 26, 1831, it is generally regarded as an example of the supreme height of the Bel canto tradition. "Casta diva" was one of the most familiar arias of the nineteenth centur.


Magistrates' Chamber

The piano in the former Magistrates' Chamber, now the Throne Room, of the Royal Palace formed part of the furnishings and accessories that were installed in the Palace in 1808-1810, when King Louis Napoleon took up residence in what had previously been Amsterdam's Town Hall. Music was important at the court of Holland's French king—musicians were actually members of the Royal Household. Chamber music was played at intimate gatherings and light dance music at balls in the Grande Salle, the Citizens' Hall. In fact, there were several pianos in the Palace in the early nineteenth century, all of them manufactured either in France or the Netherlands. This rectangular table piano was made at the leading Amsterdam workshop of Meincke and Pieter Meyer. The Meyer brothers produced three pianos in all for Louis Napoleon, two of which were for the Palace in Dam Square. After completing the commission they were honoured with a Royal Warrant to call themselves Pianoforte Manufacturers by Appointment to Their Majesties.

Schepenzaal

In de Schepenzaal werd door de schout (Officier van Justitie en hoofd van de politie) en negen schepenen (rechters) van de stad Amsterdam recht gesproken.
Aan beide zijden van de zaal is een schoorsteen. Aan de zuidwand is er boven een schilderij van Ferdinand Bol met Mozes die met de tien geboden de berg Sinai afdaalt. Het marmeren fries onder het schilderij beeldt de aanbidding van het Gouden Kalf uit. Aan de noordzijde is een schilderij van Jurgen Ovens. Het beeldt de Gerechtigheid af met aan haar zijden Vrede en Voorzichtigheid.
Op twee middagen in de week vonden er in deze zaal huwelijksvoltrekkingen plaats. De architraaf onder de insteekkamer is daarom versierd met tortelduifjes en kinderkopjes.