Great,Gundula Janowitz is always GREAT !!!

La Vestale was completed in 1805, a French libretto set by an Italian composer in the opera seria style. It is musically fascinating, being rooted in the formal style of Gluck, but you can hear the influence of Mozart and also the foreboding of the later style of Berlioz. Wagner is said to have been influenced by this opera in his writing or Rienzi.The sound on this recording is fine, recorded in Rome in 1974. The real interest, other than the rarity of the opera itself, is the performance by Gundula Janowitz. Her Germanic sound, which made her so successful in operas of Mozart and Strauss, is well-suited to this music. While some would call her voice an acquired taste, here you can hear her voice in its full blossom, even in tone and without the harsh edge which developed in her later career. While the musical style prevents the possible dramatic histrionics the libretto implies, she is still able to imbue the character with emotional pathos and empathy. Her singing is perfect for the formality of Spontini's masterpiece and you will not be disappointed in the other fine singers as well. Conductor Lobos Cobos paces the score well and the choral work is well-wrought.

Great sound and great performance!

Wonderfully worthwhile.