Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma is one of the great tragic, lyric operas of all-time, a constant presence on the world’s great opera stages and in the repertoire of the world’s finest sopranos. This 1952 Covent Garden, London live recording, re-mastered directly from the broadcast acetates without any filtering or cuts, will leave one wishing they were there to experience it in the moment. Two young, future divas, Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland, feature alongside the wonderful mezzo Ebe Stignani for the women’s team, to be combined with Mirto Picchi, Giacomo Vaghi and Paul Asciak for the men’s.