Norma (opera)

Norma
Opera by Vincenzo Bellini
Domenico Donzelli, Giuditta Pasta, and Giulia Grisi (original cast)
Librettist	Felice Romani
Language	Italian
Based on	Alexandre Soumet's play Norma, ou L'infanticide
Premiere	26 December 1831 (1831-12-26) Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Norma (Italian: [ˈnɔrma]) 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 1 is a famous piece. Among the well known singers of Norma of the first half of the 20th century was Rosa Ponselle who played the role in New York and London. Notable exponents of the title role in the post-war period have been Maria Callas, Leyla Gencer, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé.