• Gaspare Spontini. Tragédie lyrique in three acts. 1805.
• Libretto by Etienne de Jouy.
• First performance at the Paris Opéra on 15^th December 1807.

The Vestal virgin Julia finds herself divided between love and duty, drawn to her former betrothed, the victorious general, Licinius. He plans to abduct her from the temple, where she must watch over the sacred flame, and while he escapes blame for profaning the temple, she is condemned for his intrusion and for allowing the sacred flame to go out. Julia is about to be put to death, buried alive, when lightning strikes and the flame is renewed. This is taken as a sign of divine intervention on her behalf, and she and Licinius, whose attempts to exonerate her have failed, are re-united.

La Vestale (The Vestal Virgin) is among the most enduringly successful of Spontini's 24 operas. It includes an effective aria for Julia in the second act Toi que j'implore avec effroi (Tu che invoco con orrore/ You whom I implore in fear), followed by Impitoyables dieux! (O Nume tutelar degli infelici/ Pitiless gods - O guardian spirit of the unfortunate) and her third act Toi, que je laisse sur la terre (Caro oggetto / You whom I leave on earth - Dear one).