| La vestale | |
|---|---|
| Tragédie lyrique byGaspare Spontini | |
 Caroline Branchu in the title role of Julia, on a poster for the premiere | |
| Translation | The Vestal Virgin |
| Librettist | Étienne de Jouy |
| Language | French |
| Premiere | |
La vestale (The Vestal Virgin) is anopera composed byGaspare Spontini to a Frenchlibretto byÉtienne de Jouy. It takes the form of atragédie lyrique in three acts. It was first performed on 15 December 1807 by the Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera) at theSalle Montansier and is regarded as Spontini's masterpiece.[1] The musical style shows the influence ofGluck and anticipates the works ofBerlioz,Wagner, and FrenchGrand opera.[2]
Spontini had finishedLa vestale by the summer of 1805 but had faced opposition from leading members of the Opéra and rivalry from fellow composers.[3] The premiere was made possible with the help of Spontini's patron, theEmpress Joséphine, but only after being rearranged byJean-Baptiste Rey andLouis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis.[4]La vestale was an enormous success, enjoying over two hundred performances by 1830.[5]
Its fame soon spread abroad; it appeared in Naples and in Vienna[6] in 1811. The full piano score with lyrics in French and German was sold in Germany in 1812, as well as the score for an aria and a duet.[7] In 1814 the opera was performed in Budapest.[8] followed by Stockholm in 1823. It was premiered in the United States in French atThéâtre d'Orléans in New Orleans on 17 February 1828.[9] Wagner conducted the work in Dresden in 1844 withWilhelmine Schröder-Devrient.[10]
Important 20th-century revivals include those forRosa Ponselle at the Met in 1925-26 and theMaggio Musicale Fiorentino in 1933, forMaria Caniglia in Rome, 1942,[10] and the 1954 production atLa Scala withMaria Callas in the title role, which was the first opera staging by the film directorLuchino Visconti.[11] There followed other revivals for leading sopranos;Leyla Gencer in Palermo, 1969 and Rome, 1973;Renata Scotto in Florence, 1970;Montserrat Caballé in Barcelona in 1982; andRaina Kabaivanska in Genoa in 1984. Muti reproduced the original version at La Scala in 1993, and English National Opera mounted the opera in London in 2002.[10]
A very memorable performance, on a slippery stage, on the last night of theWexford Opera Festival in 1979 is described byBernard Levin.[12]
La vestale is famous in historical terms but is only very infrequently performed. Two of its arias (translated to Italian and recorded byMaria Callas andRosa Ponselle), "Tu che invoco" and "O nume tutelar",[13] are better known than the work as a whole. In recognition of its role in the development of Richard Wagner's third opera,Rienzi, it was performed in concert form in Dresden'sSemperoper in the Summer of 2013, conducted byGabriele Ferro and starringFrancisco Araiza as Cinna,Maria Agresta as Julia, and baritoneChristopher Magiera as Licinius.
A parody was staged in Paris in 1808,[14] set in a hatmaker's shop.
| Role | Voice type[15] | Premiere cast,[16] 15 December 1807 Conductor:Jean-Baptiste Rey |
|---|---|---|
| Licinius,Roman general | tenor | Étienne Lainez |
| Cinna,head of alegion | tenor | François Lays or Lay |
| Chief Priest | bass | Henri-Étienne Dérivis |
| Julia,young vestal | soprano | Alexandrine-Caroline Branchu |
| The Great Vestal | mezzo-soprano | Marie-Thérèse Maillard |
| Chief of the Aruspices | bass | Duparc |
| A consul | bass | Martin |
_-_Archivio_Storico_Ricordi_ICON011807.jpg)
Returning to Rome after a victorious campaign, Licinius finds his beloved Julia has become a priestess ofVesta. Although Julia attempts to avoid going to Licinius'striumph, she is delegated to present him with a wreath. He tells her that he intends to kidnap and reclaim her.
In the temple of Vesta, Julia guards the eternal flame and prays to be freed of temptation. Licinius arrives; during their rapturous reconciliation, the flame expires. Licinius is advised by Cinna to flee. Julia is interrogated by thehigh priest but refuses to name Licinius. She is sentenced to death for licentiousness.
_-_Archivio_Storico_Ricordi_ICON012400.jpg)
Despite the pleas of Licinius, Julia is to be buried alive; even when he admits his intrusion to the Temple, Julia claims not to recognise him. Athunderstorm ensues, during whichlightning reignites the sacred flame. Recognising this as a sign from the Gods, the High Priest and Vestal Priestess release Julia who is then married to Licinius.
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