Norma

Opera in Two Acts
by
Vincenzo Bellini

Presented by Sara Bellini, with DVD

"If we weep from emotion on hearing it, it's nothing to be ashamed of" - so said Richard Wagner upon hearing Norma, the most successful opera by the last and greatest composer of bel canto. The title role is one of the most taxing and wide-ranging parts in opera, and is easily one of the most difficult in the soprano repertoire. It calls for great vocal control of range, flexibility, and dynamics, as well as containing a wide range of emotions: conflict of personal and public life, romantic life, maternal love, friendship, jealousy, murderous intent, and resignation.

Sara Bellini is a longstanding opera lover and especially a great admirer of the operas of Vincenzo Bellini. Trained in Romance languages, literature and linguistics, Sara attended high school, college and graduate school in France, Spain, and Italy, as well as in the United States. She is currently on the staff of the Concord Academy.