Vestale, La

Opera by Mercadante (libretto, in Italian, by Salvatore Cammarano), produced at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, on 10 March 1840.

Opera by Spontini (libretto, in French, by V J E de Jouy, based on Winckelmann's Monumenti antichi inediti), produced at the Paris Opéra on 16 January 1807. In the story, the holy fire of vestal virgins becomes extinguished as Julia attempts to elope with former betrothed Lycinius. As she is led to execution, lightning rekindles the flame and she is spared.