Who composed the opera 'Norma'?
Norma (opera) Norma (opera) Norma () is a "tragedia lirica" or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after the play "Norma, ou L'infanticide" ("Norma, or The Infanticide") by Alexandre Soumet. It was first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26 December 1831. The opera is regarded as a leading example of the "bel canto" genre, and the soprano prayer "Casta diva" in Act I is a famous piece. Notable exponents of the title role in the post-war period have been Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé and, in the 2007 Biondi-Minasi critical edition based on
Norma (opera) Picco. In London in 1952, Callas sang Norma at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in November (where the role of Clotilde was sung by Joan Sutherland); she made her American debut singing the role at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in November 1954 under Nicola Rescigno; and then she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York under Fausto Cleva in October/November 1956. In 1960, she performed Norma in the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece with the collaboration of the Greek National Opera. Many other notable sopranos have performed the role, so that in modern times, "Norma" continues