Norma

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. Thoughts of Norma upset Pollione. His love for her has cooled, despite her having given up her sacred vows and borne him two children. Pollione feels reproach for not loving Norma anymore, but believes his emotions to be controlled by the Gods, saying that he can already see the abyss opening below him, He is in love with another woman, another virgin priestess of the druidic temple: Adalgisa. Flavio knows that Norma will respond badly to this news, but Pollione is well aware of this, and has been shown the