LA VESTALE (Spontini) Paris 2024 Elza van den Heever, Michael Spyres, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Julien Behr

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: La Vestale  
• Composer: Spontini Gasparo  
• Libretto: Étienne de Jouy    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: Opéra Bastille, Opera de Paris, France  
• Recorded: June 29, 2024
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Elza van den Heever, Michael Spyres, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Julien Behr, Jean Teitgen, Florent Mbia
• Conductor: Bertrand de Billy   
• Orchestra: Orchestre de l'Opera national de Paris  
• Chorus: Choeur de l'Opera national de Paris  
• Chorus Master: Ching-Lien Wu  
• Stage Director: Lydia Steier   
• Stage Designer: Étienne Pluss  
• Costume Designer: Katharina Schlipf  
• Lighting Designer: Valerio Tiberi  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: Opera de Paris Play, OperaVision  
• Date Published: 2024  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs, frsubs  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

La vestale (The Vestal Virgin) is an opera composed by Gaspare Spontini to a French libretto by Étienne de Jouy. It takes the form of a tragédie lyrique in three acts. It was first performed on 15 December 1807 by the Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera) at the Salle Montansier and is regarded as Spontini’s masterpiece. The musical style shows the influence of Gluck and anticipates the works of Berlioz, Wagner, and French Grand opera.

Composition history
Spontini had finished La vestale by the summer of 1805 but had faced opposition from leading members of the Opéra and rivalry from fellow composers. The premiere was made possible with the help of Spontini’s patron, the Empress Joséphine, but only after being rearranged by Jean-Baptiste Rey and Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis. La vestale was an enormous success, enjoying over two hundred performances by 1830.

Synopsis
Place: Rome
About 269 BC
Act 1
Returning to Rome after a victorious campaign, Licinius finds his beloved Julia has become a priestess of Vesta. Although Julia attempts to avoid going to Licinius’s triumph, she is delegated to present him with a wreath. He tells her that he intends to kidnap and reclaim her.

Act 2
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 the high priest but refuses to name Licinius. She is sentenced to death for licentiousness.

Act 3
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. A thunderstorm ensues, during which lightning 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.

Quoted from Wikipedia

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