NORMA - Libretto

Norma - Vincenzo Bellini

Bellini's opera NORMA was first produced at La Scala in Milan on 26th December 1831. The first production in Malta was only three years later on the 15 November of 1834.

Though this libretto  is undated, the same wrapper with its Ancient Egyptian motifs was probably first used for the AIDA in the 1877-1878 season which saw the re opening of the Theatre Royal after it burnt down in 1873 (See Paul Xuereb, The Maltese Opera Libretto (MUP 2004): xix)                         

Printed in Malta at 133 Strada Forni, this was the C. Busuttil printing house.   Paul Xuereb notes that the same wrapper was reissued for the performance of AIDA in 1897-98. However, here we also find it used for Bellini's Norma.

It has 61 pages of parallel Italian and English text. On the back cover is the cast list: POLLIONE - Sig. Luigi Longobardo, OROVESO - Sig. Giovanni Balisardi, NORMA - Sigra Ersilia Ancarani, ADALGISA - Signa Annita Torretta, CLOTILDE - Signa Candida de Franco, FLAVIO - Sig. Egidio Bacci. 
Conductor of the Orchestra - Sig. ARTURO BOVI.

I am providing a link to one of the most amazing voices ever, Maria Callas. Here she is singing the inimitable Casta Diva from Bellini's Norma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-9IvuEkreI