Opera, they say, is emotion delivered through the human voice. And composer Gasparo Spontini’s “La Vestale“, a romantic opera about desire, war, duty and authority, is no exception.
The otherwise little-known work from 1807 is perhaps most associated with Maria Callas, whose 1950s performances of it became legendary in the opera world. Now, La Vestale is coming to Staatsoper Unter den Linden, an opera house with a connection to Spontini: he was musical director of what was then the “Royal Opera” between 1820 and 1841, before the house burned down in 1843. For the Staatsoper’s 2026/27 season, American opera director Lydia Steier is giving the work a new treatment that leans into its themes of authoritarianism and power. Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva appears in the title role as Julia, who, sworn to chastity, falls disastrously in love with Roman army general Licinius. The set, designed by Etienne Pluss, takes the form of the historic Sorbonne amphitheatre in Paris adorned with a single flame burning in a shallow silver bowl – the sacred fire that Julia is condemned for letting go out. What happens, we are prompted to consider, when we resist? La Vestale premieres on 26.09.2026 – you can get tickets on the website.
Text: Benji Haughton / Credits: La Vestale, Opéra national de Paris, 2024, Guergana Damianova; Maximilian Semlinger, Laura Buechner
Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Unter den Linden 7, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
La Vestale premieres on 26.09.2026, 18h; further performances: 30.09, 03.10, 06.10, 09.10, 30.04.2027, 06.05.2027, 08.05.2027
@staatsoperberlin
