The opera La Vestale shows Mercadante's flexibility in choice of subject matter, as he turns to a subject from classical antiquity. This opera was one of a series of operas which Mercadante called reform operas, that intended to further the cause of Italian Romantic opera and its forms. During this time the composer was experimenting with structural innovations and orchestral nuance, but he was perfectly at ease in applying these new musical concepts to a more traditional subject. The libretto was written by Salvatore Cammarano. He and Donizetti had recently collaborated on the opera Poliuto, which had been banned by the censors. Thinking that the Donizetti opera would never be performed, Cammarano turned much of the libretto of Poliuto into the Mercadante text. The stories are completely different, but he was still able to use some of the aria texts with little alteration, and to pattern his new opera after the old one. Other sources for the Cammarano libretto were the libretti for the Spontini and Pacini operas called La Vestale. Mercadante's score attempts to capture in romantic terms the grandiose and monumental feeling of the ancient story from Roman history. His structures are large and imposing, his melodies elegant and refined, and the orchestrations imaginative and colorful. The premiere took place on March 10, 1840, and the opera was an immense success.

© All Music Guide