Mariella Devia is no mysterious name for opera lovers. She is a legend and diva who has for so long become synonymous with Bel Canto, dominating the works of Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. She has also performed some of Verdi’s works, as well as those of Offenbach, Cherubini, Auber, and Mozart, among others. She has also made a huge international career singing at every major theater including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera, and Aix-en-Provence among others.

Throughout the past few years, Devia has enjoyed success in many of the Bel Canto dramatic roles including “Lucrezia Borgia,” “Roberto Devereux,” and “Norma.” And this week, she says goodbye to the opera stage at the Teatro La Fenice.

The soprano brings her opera career to a close with “Norma,” which is known as the Mount Everest of the soprano repertory. Devia has dominated the role and sung it to great acclaim, so it is fitting that a legend like her says farewell to staged opera with this legendary role. And it is also fitting that it will be at La Fenice, a theater where she made her debut 40 years ago and went on to have some of her greatest successes. Along with her retirement from the opera stage, the theater will award the “Premio Una vita nella musica 2018,” awarding her for the contributions she has made to the opera world.

But for fans and opera lovers, this will not be a complete farewell. Devia will continue to perform recitals and concerts, so there will still be chances to see and hear her distinct instrument.

And for those who will not be in Venice to witness this historic run of performances, here is Devia in last year’s live stream of “Norma.”