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Parish Alvars’s famous Introduction and Variations sur des motifs de l’Opera Norma de Bellini op. 36 for solo harp was published by Artaria in Vienna in 1836. Set in Roman-occupied Gaul, Bellini’s Tragedia Lyrica was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 26 December 1831. Despite an unsuccessful premier, Norma quickly became popular, being staged at Naples, Bergamo and Venice in 1832, in Rome in 1834 and in Vienna (sung in German) in May 1833. Fantasias and Variations on themes from the opera swept the salons of Europe, the most famous theme, Casta Diva, from the first act, being by far the most popular subject.
