Norma Synopsis

Act I
In their sacred grove, the high priest Orveso and the Druids beg the god Irminsul to lead them to victory over the Romans (“Ite sul colle, o Druidi”). When they have left, the Roman proconsul Pollione confesses to his friend Flavio that he no longer loves Norma, Oroveso’s daughter, with whom he has secretly fathered two children. Instead, he has fallen in love with a younger priestess, Adalgisa (“Meco all’altare di Venere”) The chorus of Druids announces the arrival of Norma, high priestess of the Druids. Norma promises her people that when the time is right, she will lead the revolt against Rome. Until then, she offers up a prayer of peace to the mood goddess (“Casta Diva”). Once they have left, Adalgisa enters and prays for the strength to resist Pollione (“Deh Proteggimi, o Dio”) but Pollione convinces her to break her vow and elope with him when he returns to Rome.

In her quarters, Norma fears that the end of her relationship with Pollione is near. Adalgisa arrives to confess that she has a lover. Norma sympathizes with the young woman and releases her from her vows. Pollione enters and Norma suddenly understands that it is for Adalgisa that Pollione will abandon her and her two children.

Act II
In order to prevent Pollione from taking her children with him, Norma works up the courage to kill them (“Teneri, teneri figli”). Her motherly instincts, however, prevent her from going through with it. Instead, she begs Adalgisa to adopt them and take them to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa has a change of heart and tells Norma she wants Pollione and Norma to reunite (“Mira, o Norma”).

The Druids gather to hear Oroveso’s announcement that there will be a new, even crueler commander to replace Pollione, who has been recalled to Rome. Oroveso expresses his passion for their planned uprising against the Romans and tells them they must practice patience until that day comes (“Ah! Del Tebro al giogo indegno”).

Norma hears that Pollione has refused to reunite with her, despite Adalgisa’s plea. Norma demands an attack on the Romans. Learning that Pollione has tried to abduct Adalgisa from the temple, Oroveso orders him to death as a sacrificial victim. Alone with Pollione, Norma tells him she will grant him his freedom if he will return to her. When he refuses, she calls the Druids and proclaims that the guilty must be punished. She then confesses to her affair with Pollione and offers herself as the sacrifice. Pollione sees her nobility, and recognizes the love he has for Norma. He decides to share her fate. Norma asks her father Oroveso to look after her children, and she and Pollione reconcile before their imminent death.