On Opulent Opera this Saturday, 25 February 2012

Presented by Michael Dingaan every Saturday evening from 18h00 to 21h00, this programme will delight all opera lovers.
On Opulent Opera this Saturday, 25 February 2012

This Saturday, you will be able to enjoy the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini.

ACT I

Deep in a forest, the Druids gather at the altar of their god, Irminsul, where their priest, Oroveso, leads them in a prayer for revenge against the conquering Romans. When they have left, the Roman procounsul, Polline, confesses to his aide that he no longer loves the high priestess Norma, Oroveso's daughter, but has fallen in love with a young novice priestess, Adalgisa. They leave as the Druids assemble and Norma prays to the moon goddess for peace. After the Druids disperse, Adalgisa arrives to pray for strength to resist Pollione, but when he appears he persuades her to flee with him to Rome the next day.

In her hidden retreat, Norma tells her confidante, Clotilde, that she fears Pollione may desert her and her two children for a woman whose identity she does not know. The children are led away as Adalgisa enters to confess she has a lover. Recalling her own weakness, Norma is about to absolve Adalgisa from her vows, but this kindness turns to fury when Pollione appears and Norma learns he is Adalgisa's suitor. Though Pollione would still flee with her, Adalgisa vows she would now rather die than steal him from Norma.

ACT II

That night, dagger in hand, Norma tries to bring herself to murder her children in their sleep to keep them from Pollione. But she cannot, instead summoning Adalgisa to take them to him. The girl refuses, pleading with the despairing mother to pity her children. Norma embraces Adalgisa, overcome by her offer to go to Pollione and plead for Norma.

The Druids assemble at their altar to hear Oroveso's announcement that Pollione is being replaced by a crueler commander. He rages at Rome's hateful bondage but counsels submission for the moment, so as to make the eventual revolt more certain of success.

At the temple, Norma is stunned to hear from Clotilde that Adalgisa's entreaties to Pollione have been in vain, and in a fury she urges the people to wage war on their conquerors. Oroveso demands a sacrificial victim, and just then Pollione is dragged in, having profaned the sanctuary. Alone with him, Norma promises him his freedom if he will renounce Adalgisa and return to her. When he refuses, Norma calls in the Druids and confesses her guilt. Moved by her nobility, Pollione insists on sharing her fate. After begging Orveso to watch over her children, Norma leads her lover to the pyre while the crowd prays.
 

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