Norma

Norma, by Vincenzo Bellini, reflects entirely the artistic maturity of this Sicilian composer. The piece had its premiere at the Scala Theatre in Milan on December 26, 1831. While the reactions to the premiere were cold, the second performance received warm acclamations. With Norma, Bellini reached the climax of his vocal lyricism, confirming and underlining at the same time a dramatic strength revealed in both the majestic clearness of the recitatives and in the solemnity of the choir. These elements serve as a background to the tragedy like a big, beautiful fresco. The model of Norma greatly influenced subsequent lyric operas, starting from the ones signed by Verdi. Wagner, who certainly was not fond of the traditional form of operas, showed unlimited admiration towards Norma, so much that he directed it in Riga in 1837. Later on, he admitted that the first idea for the scenic-musical structure of Isotta’s death was given to him by Norma’s invocation “Deh, non volerli vittime” (“Oh, do not kill them”) that anticipates the intense progression of the concerted finale.