La Vestale

Tragédie lyrique in Three Acts (1807) Music by Gaspare Spontini Text by Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy Julia is ready to break the law imposed upon her and lets her beloved Licinius go to the place where she must watch a fire at night. The Vestal, priestess of the goddess Vesta, opposes the 'holy law' and the High Priest as its guardian. Julia follows her love and thus the nature of man. For the Supreme Vestal, however, love is 'a barbaric monster' and an enemy of the goddess Vesta, whose unceasing burning flame the chaste-living Vestal virgins are to protect. La Vestale brought Gaspare Spontini success in 1807 during the Napoleonic era in Paris - the greatest up until then. From 1820 to 1841, he led as Prussian General Music Director the Royal Opera in Berlin. With its grand-scaled scenes, La Vestale became one of the most successful operas of the 19th century. The complex choral melodies, instrumental effects, and ballet music influenced composers like Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz. In her production, Lydia Steier, who last brought Les Contes d’Hoffmann to the stage here, feels the ruthless mechanisms of an autocratic regime. Co-production with the Opéra national de Paris With friendly support Cast: Musical Direction: Carlo Rizzi Production: Lydia Steier Stage Design: Etienne Pluss Costumes: Katharina Schlipf Lighting: Valerio Tiberi Video: Etienne Guiol Chorus Rehearsal: Dani Juris Dramaturgy: Olaf A. Schmitt Julia: Sonya Yoncheva Licinius: David Butt Philip The Supreme Vestal: Marina Prudenskaya Cinna: Siyabonga Maqungo The High Priest: Adrian Sâmpetrean A Consul: Hanseong Yun State Opera Choir, Staatskapelle Berlin