Norma

After the success of Cherubini’s Médée in 2024, the effort to treat appreciative audiences to legendary titles—not new to La Scala but remaining on the sidelines due to the difficulty of execution or the perils of comparison with epic performances —continues with Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, which received its baptism at La Scala in 1831 with Giuditta Pasta, Giulia Grisi, and Domenico Donzelli in the principal roles. A war-horse for Maria Callas, who sang it on Piermarini’s stage in 1952 and 1955, the opera has not been performed here since 1977, when it was conducted by Gianandrea Gavezzeni with Montserrat Caballé in the title role. The new production is the work of the brilliant Olivier Py, who gained acclaim for Thaïs by Massenet at La Scala, with Fabio Luisi on the podium.