Composed by Vincenzo Bellini with a liberatto by poet Felice Romani, Norma is a two-act Italian opera that was originally performed in 1831 at the height of the bel canto tradition. The show follows the tale of two lovers, the High Priestess Norma and a politician named Pollione, whose fading romance is finally broken when Pollione falls in love with a younger woman by the name of Adalgisa. The new lovers flee to Rome, but not before Norma curses her former partner for his treachery. The tragedy features "Casta Diva," one of the most recognizable arias from the 19th century, and has solidified the career of several sopranos who have managed the demanding task of bringing Norma to life throughout the 20th Century.
