Norma. Facsimile della Partitura Autografa Volume Primo [-Secondo]. [Facsimile of the autograph musical manuscript full score]

Roma: Real Accademia d'Italia, 1935. 2 volumes. Oblong folio. Original publisher's light gray boards with dark gray printed title label to upper and spine of each volume.

Vol. 1
1f. (recto half-title, verso blank), 1f. (recto title printed in red and black, verso blank), 1f. (recto printed note by Ottorino Respighi regarding the opera with printed date of "23 Settembre 1935-XIII," verso note regarding facsimile reproduction), 1f. (recto facsimile reproduction of original title-page, verso blank), 147ff. (i.e. 294 pp.) autograph musical manuscript facsimile.

Vol. 2
1f. (recto half-title, verso blank), 1f. (recto title printed in red and black, verso blank), 103ff. (i.e. 206 pp.) autograph musical manuscript facsimile.

Bindings slightly worn. Published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bellini's death.

Norma, in two acts to a libretto by Felice Romani after Alexandre Soumet's verse tragedy Norma, was first performed in Milan at the Teatro alla Scala on 26 December 1831.

"Norma has always been revered above other Italian operas of the period ... The title role is one of the most taxing and wide-ranging parts in the entire repertory: a noble character whose tragedy lies in her fatal love for an enemy of her people. The many different aspects of Norma's temperament are marvellously drawn by Bellini, not only in the aria 'Casta diva', but also in the superb duets with Adalgisa and Pollione, and in the ensemble in the finale of Act 2, where Bellini reaches his peak as a musical dramatist." Simon Maguire and Elizabeth Forbes in Grove Music Online.