La Monnaie in Belgium is set to open a new production of Bellini’s “Norma.”

The production, which will be directed by Christophe Coppens, contrasts the extraordinarily beautiful melodies in this story of an impossible love triangle with a grey world of concrete, and makes the impossible passions part of an acrid identity crisis.

Sally Matthews will sing the title role with Lidia Fridman singing two performances. Both sopranos will be joined by Italian tenor Enea Scala as Pollione and Italian mezzo-soprano Raffaella Lupinacci who makes her debut in the role of Norma’s rival Adalgisa.

Sesto Quatrini makes his debut at La Monnaie conducting the masterwork. “Norma” opens on Dec. 12 and is set to be presented nine times through Dec. 31, 2021.