Love - betrayal - pyre: Bellini's brilliant work revolves around the wild druid priestess Norma in occupied Gaul over 2000 years ago.
Politically powerful, it has so far prevented the Gauls from revolting against the Roman occupying forces, but for purely selfish motives - as is so often the case in politics. When the Roman Pollione, for whom she has risked her life, betrays her, she uses her power to destroy not only him, but all of Rome. In the end, however, she does not sacrifice her beloved, but herself and her passion burns up with her at the stake.
Norma - the greatest work of the bel canto era with a history full of passions.
