More than a mere propaganda piece, La Vestale (The Vestal Virgin) impresses thanks to Spontini’s score. He combines the tragic lyrics of the Ancien Régime flawlessly with Opera with a capital O.

Although the plot of the libretto is simple, that is precisely what gives particular psychological depth to the main characters and political intrigues. For how can you ignore the similarity, in this opera dedicated to Joséphine, between the character of Licinius and Napoleon Bonaparte?