opera notebook
some operas I have seen on videoGaspare Spontini, La Vestale (1807)
libretto by Étienne de Jouy
Opéra National de Paris, 2024
- Conductor: Bertrand de Billy
- Director: Lydia Steier
- Set Designer: Etienne Pluss
- Julia: Elza van den Heever
- Licinius: Michael Spyres
The plot of La Vestale is pretty simple for opera. Boy has girl. Boy returns from the wars to find that girl is now a Vestal Virgin. Licinius knew Julia before she was a virgin, so he is peeved. She still loves him, so (in this production) they resume their relationship in the middle of the temple of Vesta, and they let the fire go out. Burial alive is the prescribed punishment for this misconduct, but Licinius has escaped and Julia won't tell anybody who was with her, preferring to die the death alone. Then everybody has a change of heart and they get married and live happily ever after.