Norma (opera)
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| Operas by Vincenzo Bellini |
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Adelson e Salvini (1825) |
Norma, opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio 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.
The title role is generally considered one of the most difficult in the soprano repertoire. The role was created for Giuditta Pasta who also created the role of Amina in La Sonnambula.
During the 20th century, only a small number of singers were able to master it with success: Rosa Ponselle in the early 1920s, later Joan Sutherland in the 1960s. Maria Callas was the most famous Norma of the postwar period; she performed it 89 times and made official recordings in 1954 and 1960. More recently, noted American soprano and bel canto specialist June Anderson added Norma to her repertoire, including performances at the Lyric Opera of Chicago (1997), Toronto and Marseille (2006) and Leipzig (2007).
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[edit] Cast
- Norma, daughter of Oroveso, an astrologer (soprano).
- Adalgisa, priestess in the grove of the Irmin statue (soprano).
- Pollione, Roman proconsul in Gaul (tenor).
- Oroveso, chief of the Druids (bass).
- Clotilde, Norma’s friend (soprano).
- Flavio, Pollione’s companion (tenor).
[edit] Synopsis
Act I. The grove. A secret love unites the seeress Norma with Pollione, the Roman proconsul, by whom she has borne two children. But Pollione has grown tired of the aging druid priestess and has fallen in love with Adalgisa, a young temple virgin. Despite Adalgisa's piety and virtue, she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa innocently tells Norma of her love, and Norma curses Pollione for his treachery.
Act II. Norma’s apartment. She is about to kill her children, but through maternal pity finally confides them to the care of Adalgisa. When Pollione comes to take Adalgisa from the temple, Norma denounces him and he is seized by the Druids, after having refused to give up Adalgisa. Norma proclaims herself equally guilty with him. The funeral pyre is lighted, and ascending it, Norma dies with her lover.
[edit] Famous pieces
- Sinfonia
- Casta diva, cavatina of Norma (Act I)
- Sola, furtiva al tempio, duet between Norma and Adalgisa (Act I)
- Ah! di qual sei tu vittima, terzetto between Norma, Pollione and Adalgisa (Act I)
- Teneri figli, arioso of Norma (Act II)
- Deh, con te, con te li prendi, duet between Norma and Adalgisa (Act II)
- Guerra, guerra! le galliche selve, chorus (Act II)
- In mia man alfin tu sei, duet between Norma and Pollione (Act II)
- Deh! non volerli vittime, final of Act II
[edit] Trivia
Normafa (lit. "Norma tree") is a popular tourist destination in Budapest, Hungary, originally an oak tree (other sources mention a beech), where a prima donna of European fame, Rozália Schodelné Klein sang the grand aria of Norma (Casta Diva), and which recital became famous along with the tree.
Norma's "Casta diva" is featured in the popular television show, The Simpsons'. In the episode, "Mr. Plow", Homer seeks the assistance of the advertising company, McMahon and Tate Advertising Agency. The Agency creates an artisic black-and-white commercial, in which the cavatina is sung.
