La Vestale

• Licinius, général romain ( Roman general ) - ( Tenor) - Étienne Lainez
• Cinna, chef de légion (his friend) - Tenor - François Lays
• Le Souverain pontife ( pontifex maximus ) - ( Bass) - Henri Étienne Dérivis
• Le chef of aruspices - Bass - Duparc
• Un consul - Bass
• Julia, vestale jeune ( young priestess of Vesta ) - ( Soprano) - Alexandrine -Caroline Branchu
• La grande vestale ( The great vestal ) - Mezzo- Soprano - Marie -Thérèse Maillard

La vestal ( The Vestal Virgin ) is a " Tragédie lyrique in three acts " by Gaspare Spontini.

Creation and performance history

Spontini put the score completed in summer 1805, but initially needed against intrigues of rival fellow composer and leading members of the Opéra fight. The premiere was made possible by Spontini's patroness, the Empress Joséphine. On December 15, 1807 La vestal was premiered at the Paris Académie de Musique impériale.

The opera was a great success and enjoyed until 1830 in Paris alone more than 200 performances. Soon Spontini's reputation also spread abroad. Even in 1810 it was given in Brussels ( in German ) in Vienna, 1811 in Berlin, 1812 in Munich, and then throughout Europe with great success. In Italy, La vestal first appeared in 1811 in Naples ( translated by Giovanni Schmidt) and had a decisive influence on the development of the newer opera seria. 1844 Richard Wagner led a rehearsal in Dresden, in the presence of Spontini.

La vestal disappeared in contrast to the other operas of Spontini never completely from the stage, but was played in a regular sequence in Europe and America. Rosa Ponselle 1926, the arias Tu che invoco and O nume tutela first time at the studio, Maria Callas played the same arias in 1955 again after they had a year earlier been taken over the title role in the most famous modern production: The Callas La vestale 1954 brought out for the season opening of La Scala, directed by Luchino Visconti on the occasion of 180th birth year of Spontini. This performance was also the Scala debut of tenor Franco Corelli. 1969 resuscitated the conductor Fernando Previtali the opera again with soprano Leyla Gencer and the bass-baritone Renato Bruson (of this performance is an unofficial recording in circulation). 1995 produced a recording with Riccardo Muti lesser-known singers.

Action

After a victorious campaign back in Rome, Licinius finds his beloved Julia as a priestess of Vesta. Although Julia wants to avoid to participate in Licinius ' victory celebration, it is delegated to crown him with a wreath. He promises to kidnap her and recovered.

In the Temple of Vesta Julia guarded the eternal flame and pray to be freed from all the temptations. Licinius! Come and reconcile them passionately. Since the flame goes out. Cinna advises to flee Licinius. Julia is being interrogated by the Pontifex Maximus, but refuses to reveal her lover Licinius. Because of alleged licentiousness she is sentenced to death.

Despite the pleas of Licinius to be buried alive together with Julia, which he reiterated the fact that he was the intruder in the temple, Julia claims not to recognize him. Follows a thunderstorm while the flash lit the sacred flame again. This is interpreted as a sign from the gods, so that the Pontifex Maximus and the Vestal virgins decide to give their approval to that Licinius Julia can marry.

Famous numbers

• Overture
• Dance and march ( Act I )
• Foco divino, alma del mondo, Chorus of priestesses ( Act II )
• Tu che invoco con orrore, Juliet ( Act II )
• O nume, tutelar degli infelici, Juliet ( Act II )
• Ohimè, quale apparato, Licinius ( Act III )
• Tu sol dovrai tremare, duet between Licinius and Cinna ( Act III )
• Scene with the march
• Caro oggetto, il nome di cui, Juliet ( Act III )