The central character in La Vestale, as in Norma, is a priestess who transgresses her holy vows for love. Spontini’s nobly-conceived opera, composed for Paris in the Napoleonic era, brought Callas’ first collaboration on a new production with the great director Luchino Visconti, who described her as “the greatest tragedienne since Duse” (Eleonora Duse, 1858–1924,the legendary Italian actress). Callas was joined in the cast by Franco Corelli and Ebe Stignani, and Arturo Toscanini was a member of the audience that witnessed her triumph in the role of Giulia at the first night at La Scala.