Etna Casta Diva - paroxysm on 11-12 May 2011

A new eruptive period started at Mount Etna volcano (Sicily) in January 2011, about one-and-a-half years after the end of its latest flank eruption (May 2008-July 2009). As of late-May 2011, this new eruptive period has consisted of four paroxysmal eruptive episodes, brief but quite powerful events with tall lava fountains and ash columns as well as lava flows up to 3-4 km long.
The latest of these paroxysms occurred in the night of 11-12 May 2011, culminating in the early morning hours of the 12th. Personally, I found this one of the most rewarding experiences in many years at Etna. The main phase, which continued into daybreak, was a display of stunning beauty.
This is a collage of various video clips and still photographs taken by myself between the evening of 11 May and the early morning of the 12th. To this are added a few snippets recorded by our friend Giovanni Tomarchio, cameraman for the Italian Rai television, which amongst others show also myself with colleagues and my love Catherine, who saw this phenomenon for the first time close-up.
This video is underlain by the music of "Norma Casta Diva", written by Catania-born composer Vincenzo Bellini in 1831. I have long considered using this music for some of my Etna footage, and this paroxysm perfectly goes with it.