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Overview
Synopsis
Set in Gaul, at the time of the Roman occupation, Norma is the story of a virgin druid priestess who falls in love with a Roman, leading her to break her vows and betray her faith. Although they have two sons together and Norma is continually threatened by death if anyone should find out her secret, Pollione, the Roman pro-consul, has decided he does not love her anymore. Instead, another of the virgin priestesses, Adalgisa, has caught his eye. Adalgisa is initially reluctant to break her vows, but when offered the opportunity to follow Pollione to Rome and live there as his wife she goes to Norma for help, asking to be released from her commitment. Seeing a reflection of her own relationship in Adalgisa’s description of hers, Norma releases her, not knowing that the Roman she is talking about is Pollione. When she finds out, Norma is enraged and swears to have vengeance against him.
Alone with her children, Norma is torn between her maternal love for her sons, and a desire to release them from a future of disgrace and shame by murdering them in their sleep. She spares them, and instead asks Adalgisa to take them to Rome and to raise them as her own. Adalgisa tries to talk to Pollione, to remind him of his love for Norma, but his only response is that he will take her to Rome whether she wants to go or not. Norma swears vengeance on all of Rome and readies her people, who have been thirsting for vengeance for some time. Pollione is found in the sacred forest, profaning the temple. The druids call for him to be sacrificed and Norma agrees, but her love for him stops her hand. Instead, she offers herself as sacrifice, asking her father, Oroveso, to care for her children. Pollione sees Norma’s true spirit in this act and joins her on the pyre, so that they may be together eternally.
With some of opera’s most famous arias, Bellini’s Norma is a work of true bel canto beauty, that will remain a favorite in the operatic canon for years to come.
Show Information
- Music
- Vincenzo Bellini
- Libretto
- Felice Romani
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- L.A. Soumet's play Norma, ou L'infanticide
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1831
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Gaul, Roman Occupation, 50 B.C.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Considered to be the leading example of bel canto opera, Bellini’s Norma is as popular with audiences today as it was after its premiere at La Scala, Milan on December 26, 1831. The title role is considered to be the pinnacle of many great soprano’s careers, and it has starred no less than Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballe, amongst others. The role is notable for its difficult florid vocal passages and the emotional strength needed, particularly in the act two scene
to read the context for Norma and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act 1
At the altar in the sacred forest, high priest Oroveso calls the Druids to worship. They pray that Norma, their high priestess, will come and be inspired by God to hate the Romans and go to war. Oroveso and his people long for Gaul to be free from the Roman occupation.
As the Druids leave, their songs are heard by Pollione, the Roman Pro-Consul. He arrives with the Centurion Flavio. They fear the sacred woods, as Norma has told Pollione that he will meet his death there.
to read the plot for Norma and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Act 1
Sinfonia
Introductory chorus and cavatina ‘Ite sul colle, o Druidi’ - Oroveso, Chorus
Recitative and Cavatina ‘Meco all’altar di Venere’ - Pollione, Flavio, Chorus
Chorus ‘Norma viene: le cinge la chioma’ - Chorus Scene and Cavatina ‘Casta Diva, che inargenti’ - Norma, Oroveso, Chorus
Scene and duet ‘Sgombra è la sacra selva...Deh! proteggimi, o Dio!’ and ‘Va, crudele, e al Dio spietato’ - Adalgisa, Pollione
Scene and duet ‘Sola, furtiva, al tempio’ - Norma, Clotilde, Adalgisa
Scene and trio-Finale ‘Oh non tremare, o perfido’ - Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione, Chorus
Act 2
Scene ‘Dormono entrambi’ - Norma, Clotilde
Scene and duet ‘Deh! Con te li prendi’ - Norma, Adalgisa
Chorus and sortie of Oroveso - ‘Guerrieri! A voi venirne creda’ and ‘Ah! Del Tebro al giogo indegno’ - Chorus, Oroveso
Scene ‘Ei tornerà’ - Norma, Clotilde, Oroveso, Chorus
Chorus ‘Guerra! Guerra!’ - Chorus, Norma, Oroveso
Scene ‘Ne compi il rito, o Norma?’ and duet ‘In mia mano alfin tu sei’ - Oroveso, Norma, Clotilde, Chorus, Pollione
Scene and final aria ‘Qual cor tradisti, qual cor perdesti’ - Norma, Pollione, Oroveso, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.