Giulia Grisi in her, she was the first to play the part of Adalgisa in Bellini's "Norma" in Milan, in which the dramatic soprano Giuditta Pasta took the title role. Grisi appeared in Paris in 1832 in the title role of Semiramide in Rossini's opera and was a great success; in 1834 she made her debut in London as Ninetta in "La gazza ladra"; and, again in Paris, in 1835 she created the role of Elvira in the premiere of Bellini's final opera, "I puritani" at the Théâtre-Italien. In 1842, Donizetti wrote the parts of Norina and Ernesto in "Don Pasquale" for
La pietra del paragone La pietra del paragone La pietra del paragone (The Touchstone) is an opera, or melodramma giocoso, in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, to an original Italian libretto by Luigi Romanelli. "La pietra del paragone" was first performed at La Scala, Milan, on 26 September 1812. It was the composer's first commission from a major opera house and was an instant success, being performed 53 times during its first season. Napoleon's Viceroy in Milan, Eugène de Beauharnais, was so impressed by the opera that he wrote to the Minister of the Interior, "You will kindly arrange for Maestro Joachin Rossini to