For generations Bellini’s Norma has been looked at from the vantage point of the Verismo era at the beginning of the 20th century. Now Cecilia Bartoli unveils the opera’s original pre-romantic style and colour by taking Norma back to its roots.

For the first time ever the entire music is recorded with period instruments from Bellini’s time. Traditional cuts are reinstated. Keys and tonalities are put back into place and the music is executed according to Bellini’s own tempo indications.

The leading characters were selected according to Bellini’s own choice of vocal colours: Bellini wrote Norma for Giuditta Pasta, who sang many parts which today are considered mezzosoprano roles. Adalgisa was sung by Giulia Grisi, a light soprano, and Pollione by Domenico Donzelli, who had a flexible, Rossini-style tenor voice.

A new critical music edition was compiled from the autograph score and many manuscript sources.