"La vestale" (1807) opera Gaspare Spontini

Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini ( 1774 – 1851)

 

 

Jedna od opera sa najvećim uticajem na druge kompozitore. Jedan italijanski kompozitor je uticao na razvoj nacionalih opera Francuske,  Nemačke i &

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Vw_ucRvHE

Spontini - La Vestale (on Period Instruments, Jérémie Rhorer)

 

 

 

"La vestale" opera Gaspare Spontini na libreto Étienne de Jouy, u formi lirske-tragedije u tri čina, premjera je bila 15.12.1807., u  Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera).

 

Julija, koja se zavetovala na čednost, osuđena je da bude živa sahranjena nakon što je oskrnavila hram Veste. Spašeno znakom od bogova, selo slavi ovaj ishod.

 

Vestalkin libreto su odbili Mehul, Boaldje i Kerubini, pa ga je de Žuj predložio Spontiniju, koji je prihvatio projekat i 1805. dovršio kompoziciju. Spontinijeve prostrane melodije, koloritne orkestracije i moderne harmonije doveli su do toga da žiri u Pariskoj operi odbije La Vestale, nazvavši muziku „bizarnom“ i „bučnom“.

 

Sa Vestalkom, Spontini se uspostavio kao Glukov naslednik. Njegova dela predstavljaju prelaz sa njegovog klasicizma na velika herojska dela koja će karakterisati francusku veliku operu 19. veka, anticipira dela Vagnera. Velika opera - nova sinteza između monarhije i republike, između Ancien Regime i Revolucije, koju je Napoleon I nastojao da postigne. Tema je velikog dramatičnog intenziteta, ali dozvoljava razmještanje ogromne scenske liturgije, a rimske reference, sa orlovima, skiptrima, vojnicima i trijumfalnim marševima, slažu se sa carskom simbolikom po cijenu nekoliko anahronizama. Tako možemo transponovati lik Žozefine sa Julijinim.

 

 Premijera opere doživela je veliki uspeh. Glavne uloge tumačili su: Aleksandrin-Karolin Branšu (Julija) i Etjen Lene (Licinije). Vestalka je ostala na repertoaru Pariske opere dugi niz godina (1816. imala je 100. izvođenje, 1830. 200.), a brzo se proširila i na druge scene (1810. – Brisel i Beč, 1811. – Berlin i Napulj, 1821., Milano La Scala 1822., Stokholmska kraljevska opera 1823., Varšava, 1824.,...,Drezden 1844.). Napuljska verzija, izvedena u italijanskom prevodu, postala je veoma popularna; u drugoj polovini 19. i u 20. veku bila je najčešće izlagana. Poznati izvođači časti Julije bili su m.in. Mari-Korneli Falkon, Izabela Kolbran, Roza Ponsel, Marija Kanilja, Marija Kalas, Režin Krespin, Lejla Genser, Renata Skoto, Monserat Kabale i Rajna Kabaivanska. Originalna (francuska) verzija se vratila na scenu 1993., u La Skali.

 

 

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"La vestale" (1807) opera by Gaspare Spontini

Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini (1774 – 1851)

 

One of the operas with the greatest influence on other composers. An Italian composer influenced the development of the national operas of France, Germany and &

 

La vestale 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 15.12.1807., by the Académie Impériale de Musique (Paris Opera).

 

Julia, having taken a vow of chastity, is condemned to be buried alive after having desecrated the temple of the Vesta. Saved by a sign from the gods, the village celebrates this outcome.

 

Vestalka's libretto was rejected by Méhul, Boieldieu and Cherubini, so de Jouy proposed it to Spontini, who accepted the project and in 1805., completed the composition. Spontini's spacious melodies, colorful orchestrations, and modern harmonies caused the jury at the Paris Opéra to reject "La Vestale", calling the music "bizarre" and "noisy."

 

With the Vestal, Spontini established himself as Gluck's heir. His works represent the transition from his classicism to the great heroic works that would come to characterize 19th century French Grande opera, anticipates the works of Wagner. Grand opera - the new synthesis between monarchy and republic, between the Ancien Régime and the Revolution, which Napoleon I sought to achieve.  The subject is of great dramatic intensity, but allows the deployment of a vast scenic liturgy, and the Roman references, with eagles, sceptres, soldiers and triumphal marches, agree with the imperial symbolism at the cost of a few anachronisms. We can thus transpose the character of Joséphine with that of Julia.

 

 The premiere of the opera was a great success. The main roles were played by: Alexandrine-Caroline Branchu (Julia) and Étienne Lainé (Licinius). The Vestal remained in the repertoire of the Paris Opera for many years (she had her 100th performance in 1816, 200th in 1830), and quickly spread to other stages (1810 - Brussels and Vienna, 1811 - Berlin and Naples, 1821., Milan's La Scala 1822.,  Stockholm Kungliga Operan 1823., Warsaw, 1824.,..., 1844., - Dresden). The Neapolitan version, staged in Italian translation, became very popular; in the second half of the 19th century and in the 20th century it was the most frequently exhibited. Famous performers of the part of Julia were m.in. Marie-Cornélie Falcon, Isabella Colbran, Rosa Ponselle, Maria Caniglia, Maria Callas, Régine Crespin, Leyla Gencer, Renata Scotto, Montserrat Caballé, and Rajna Kabaiwanska. The original (French) version returned to the stage in 1993., at La Scala.

 

Zoran Stokić

17.08.2023.