Emilia, who believes that her lover, the warrior Decio, is dead, has joined the Vestal Virgins. The Gran Vestale (High Priestess) announces that Decio has defeated the Gauls. Emilia, unable to escape from her new position, is comforted by her friend Giulia, also a vestal virgin. When Decio arrives, he is aghast to discover that, of all the vestal virgins, it is Emilia who presents him with the laurel wreath. Alone, they lament their fate, but Decio decides that he will defy the Goddess. His friend Publio tries to keep him on the right side of the law, but eventually agrees that he will help Decio to see Emilia in secret in the Temple.
Giulia (should this be Giulia or Guinia?) is praying for Emilia, while the Gran Vestale warns Emilia that if the sacred flame is allowed to go out, Rome will be in danger and the guardian of the flame will have to die. Decio arrives through the secret passage, leaving Publio to keep watch. Decio and Emilia are in despair and he threatens to commit suicide. Emilia dissuades him, but suddenly the flame goes out. Publio pulls Decio away as Emilia faints and is attended by Giunia. Metello arrives, admonishes the vestal virgins, and insists that Emilia be tried by the Senate.
Scene 2: In the sacred wood outside the Temple
The Senate gathers, and Licinio (Decio's father) condemns Emilia to death. Giunia tries to take the blame, but Emilia rejects her offer. Decio asks Licinio to spare Emilia, but his father disowns him.
Act 3Edit
Outside Emilia's tomb
Publio attempts to change Licinio's mind, pointing out that Decio is contemplating suicide. Licinio is adamant that the law must take its course. Emilia, who has lost her reason, thinks that her funeral cortège is for her wedding. However, approaching her tomb, she recovers and bids farewell to Giunia and the vestals. Decio and his troops arrive, but it is too late. He attacks Metello, but Licinio intervenes. Decio decides to join Emilia in death and commits suicide.
vestale, mercadante, vestale, vestal, virgin, opera, italian, composer, saverio, mercadante, takes, form, tragedia, lirica, three, acts, libretto, salvadore, cammarano, influenced, victor, joseph, Étienne, jouy, libretto, spontini, more, famous, 1807, opera, s. La vestale The Vestal Virgin is an opera by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante It takes the form of a tragedia lirica in three acts The libretto by Salvadore Cammarano was influenced by Victor Joseph Etienne de Jouy s libretto for Spontini s more famous 1807 opera of the same name Saverio MercadanteThe opera s first performance took place at the Teatro San Carlo Naples on 10 March 1840 Contents 1 Performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 3 1 Act 1 3 2 Act 2 3 3 Act 3 4 Recordings 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksPerformance history EditAfter its first performance the opera was one of the most frequently performed of Mercadante s operas with around one hundred and fifty given The opera was revived at the Wexford Festival in 2004 Cast members included Doriana Milazzo as Emilia and Dante Alcala as Decio 1 Roles EditRoles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere cast 10 March 1840 2 Conductor Antonio FarelliEmilia a vestal virgin soprano Adelina Spech SalviGiunia another vestal and Emilia s friend mezzo soprano Eloisa BucciniDecio a warrior and Emilia s lover tenor Domenico ReinaPublio Decio s friend baritone Paul BarroilhetLicinio Murena a consul and Decio s father tenor Timoleone BarattiniLucio Silano a consul bass Michele BenedettiMetello Pio the High Priest bass Pietro GianniLa gran vestale the chief Vestal Virgin mezzo soprano Anna SalvettiSynopsis EditPlace Ancient Rome Time the Gallic WarsAct 1 Edit A sacred woodEmilia who believes that her lover the warrior Decio is dead has joined the Vestal Virgins The Gran Vestale High Priestess announces that Decio has defeated the Gauls Emilia unable to escape from her new position is comforted by her friend Giulia also a vestal virgin When Decio arrives he is aghast to discover that of all the vestal virgins it is Emilia who presents him with the laurel wreath Alone they lament their fate but Decio decides that he will defy the Goddess His friend Publio tries to keep him on the right side of the law but eventually agrees that he will help Decio to see Emilia in secret in the Temple Act 2 Edit Scene 1 The Temple of VestaGiulia should this be Giulia or Guinia is praying for Emilia while the Gran Vestale warns Emilia that if the sacred flame is allowed to go out Rome will be in danger and the guardian of the flame will have to die Decio arrives through the secret passage leaving Publio to keep watch Decio and Emilia are in despair and he threatens to commit suicide Emilia dissuades him but suddenly the flame goes out Publio pulls Decio away as Emilia faints and is attended by Giunia Metello arrives admonishes the vestal virgins and insists that Emilia be tried by the Senate Scene 2 In the sacred wood outside the TempleThe Senate gathers and Licinio Decio s father condemns Emilia to death Giunia tries to take the blame but Emilia rejects her offer Decio asks Licinio to spare Emilia but his father disowns him Act 3 Edit Outside Emilia s tombPublio attempts to change Licinio s mind pointing out that Decio is contemplating suicide Licinio is adamant that the law must take its course Emilia who has lost her reason thinks that her funeral cortege is for her wedding However approaching her tomb she recovers and bids farewell to Giunia and the vestals Decio and his troops arrive but it is too late He attacks Metello but Licinio intervenes Decio decides to join Emilia in death and commits suicide Recordings EditYear Cast Emilia La Gran Vestale Giunia Decio Conductor opera house and orchestra Label 3 1970 Angela Vercelli Licia Falcone Miriam Pirazzini Giuseppe Gismondo Giuseppe Ruisi Orchestra of Altamura and Chorus of Altamura Recording of a performance at Civitavecchia on 26 August 78rpm A N N A Record CompanyCat ANNA 10121987 Dunja Vejzovic Filka Dimitrova Paola Romano Gianfranco Cecchele Vjekoslav Sutej Teatro Nazionale Croato di Spalato Orchestra and Chorus CD BongiovanniGB 2065 66 22004 Doriana Milazzo Danna Glaser Agata Bienkowska Dante Alcala Paolo Arrivabeni de Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra and Wexford Festival Opera Chorus Recorded at performances in the Theatre Royal Wexford on 23 26 29 October CD Marco PoloCat 8 225310 11References Edit Tom Kaufman Mercadante Il vestale on operatoday com 24 January 2006 Retrieved 27 January 2013 Casaglia Gherardo 2005 La vestale 10 March 1840 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Recordings of La vestale operadis opera discography org ukFurther reading EditRose Michael 1998 Mercandante Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele in Stanley Sadie ed The New Grove Dictionary of Opera vol 3 pp 334 339 London Macmillan Publishers Inc ISBN 0 333 73432 7 ISBN 1 56159 228 5 Rose Michael 2001 in Holden Amanda ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam Inc ISBN 0 14 029312 4External links EditLa vestale Mercadante Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Del Teatro in Italian Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La vestale Mercadante amp oldid 1092484974, 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