ACT I: The high priest Oroveso and the Druid people gather in the forest to pray to the gods for guidance in the war against their Roman invaders. When they have left, the Roman proconsul, Pollione, confesses to his aide that he no longer loves the high priestess Norma, who has broken her vow of chastity and borne him two sons. Instead, he has fallen in love with Adalgisa, a young temple priestess, and despite an ominous dream, is determined to bring her to Rome and marry her ('Meco all'altar di Venere'). They leave as the Druids assemble and Norma, Oroveso's daughter, prays to the moon goddess for peace ('Casta Diva, che inargenti'). After the Druids disperse, Adalgisa arrives to pray for strength to resist Pollione, but when he appears he persuades her to flee with him to Rome the next day ('Va crudele…Vieni in Roma'). In her home, Norma tells her companion Clotilde, that she fears Pollione will abandon her and her children. Adalgisa comes to confess her secret love and seek Norma's guidance. Recalling her own weakness and touched by the story, Norma releases her from her vows ('Sola, furtiva, al tempio'). But her kindness turns to fury when Pollione appears and Norma learns he is Adalgisa's suitor. Adalgisa is appalled to learn that he has also seduced Norma and vows she will die in order to restore Pollione to Norma and their children. ACT II: Norma watches over her sleeping children and resolves to kill them to prevent them from becoming Roman slaves ('Dormono entrambi'). However, she cannot bring herself to murder and instead summons Adalgisa to take them to Pollione and look after them. Adalgisa refuses, and offers to go to Pollione to persuade him to return to Norma. The Druids assemble at their altar to hear Oroveso's announcement that Pollione is being replaced by a crueler commander. At the temple, Norma is stunned to hear from Clotilde that Adalgisa's entreaties to Pollione have failed, and in a fury she strikes the sacred shield to summon her people to war against the Romans ('Guerra, guerra!'). Oroveso demands a sacrificial victim, and just then Pollione is dragged in, having been captured while trying to break into the virgins' temple. Alone with him, Norma promises him his freedom if he will renounce Adalgisa and return to her. When he refuses, Norma orders a pyre to be prepared, and reveals that she herself will be the sacrificial victim. Moved by her nobility, Pollione insists on sharing her fate. After begging Oroveso to watch over her children, Norma leads her lover to the pyre while the crowd prays.
ACT I:
The high priest Oroveso and the Druid people gather in the forest to pray to the gods for guidance in the war against their Roman invaders. When they have left, the Roman proconsul, Pollione, confesses to his aide that he no longer loves the high priestess Norma, who has broken her vow of chastity and borne him two sons. Instead, he has fallen in love with Adalgisa, a young temple priestess, and despite an ominous dream, is determined to bring her to Rome and marry her ('Meco all'altar di Venere'). They leave as the Druids assemble and Norma, Oroveso's daughter, prays to the moon goddess for peace ('Casta Diva, che inargenti'). After the Druids disperse, Adalgisa arrives to pray for strength to resist Pollione, but when he appears he persuades her to flee with him to Rome the next day ('Va crudele…Vieni in Roma').
In her home, Norma tells her companion Clotilde, that she fears Pollione will abandon her and her children. Adalgisa comes to confess her secret love and seek Norma's guidance. Recalling her own weakness and touched by the story, Norma releases her from her vows ('Sola, furtiva, al tempio'). But her kindness turns to fury when Pollione appears and Norma learns he is Adalgisa's suitor. Adalgisa is appalled to learn that he has also seduced Norma and vows she will die in order to restore Pollione to Norma and their children.
ACT II:
Norma watches over her sleeping children and resolves to kill them to prevent them from becoming Roman slaves ('Dormono entrambi'). However, she cannot bring herself to murder and instead summons Adalgisa to take them to Pollione and look after them. Adalgisa refuses, and offers to go to Pollione to persuade him to return to Norma. The Druids assemble at their altar to hear Oroveso's announcement that Pollione is being replaced by a crueler commander. At the temple, Norma is stunned to hear from Clotilde that Adalgisa's entreaties to Pollione have failed, and in a fury she strikes the sacred shield to summon her people to war against the Romans ('Guerra, guerra!'). Oroveso demands a sacrificial victim, and just then Pollione is dragged in, having been captured while trying to break into the virgins' temple. Alone with him, Norma promises him his freedom if he will renounce Adalgisa and return to her. When he refuses, Norma orders a pyre to be prepared, and reveals that she herself will be the sacrificial victim. Moved by her nobility, Pollione insists on sharing her fate. After begging Oroveso to watch over her children, Norma leads her lover to the pyre while the crowd prays.
