Norma tells the tragic story of two lovers a Roman consul and a Druid high priestess against a background of war and national entanglements. Noted for its long melodic lines purity of style and 'an ecstatic unfolding of sonority ' it remains despite its daunting difficulties for singers one of the most frequently performed and recorded operas. Authoritative standard edition. List of characters scenes. Instrumentation.Dover (1994) republication of the music from a standard edition.