Andrea Papi

NORMA tells the tragic story of a supposedly chaste druidic priestess, who is driven to murderous jealousy by her lover's inconstancy. But she forgoes vengeance, protects innocence, and sees to it that the guilty atone for their crimes. Fiorenza Cedolins, Sonia Ganassi, Vincenzo La Scola, and Andrea Papi star in this 2007 Gran Theatre Del Liceu/Grand Theatre de Geneve co-production of the Bellini opera.

The corsair Corrado, having taken refuge on an island in the Aegean Sea, decides to launch an expedition against the Muslims, during which he is taken prisoner. Gulnara, the favorite of Pasha Seïd, falls in love with Corrado and helps him escape after murdering Seïd herself. Meanwhile, Medora, Corrado’s beloved, has poisoned herself upon hearing the false news of her lover’s death. She dies in the arms of her lover, who has returned too late. Corrado, in despair, throws himself into the sea, while Gulnara collapses, overcome by grief. “Il corsaro” is a lyric drama (“melodramma tragico”) in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Lord Byron’s poem “The Corsair.” It premiered on October 25, 1848, at the Grand Theatre in Trieste. The opera was taken off the bill after three performances and replaced by “Macbeth.” From the “Tutto Verdi” box set of 27 Verdi operas. Recorded live at the Teatro Regio in Parma on October 19 and 21, 2008.