THE JOURNEY TO REIMS – IL VIAGGIO A REIMS
Gioachino Rossini
in Italian with German and English subtitles
Dramma giocoso in one act and two scenes by Luigi Balocchi
Synopsis
“One of the oddest and most exhilarating entertainments ever to issue from the pen of an opera composer.” – That’s how Rossini’s biographer Richard Osborne describes the musical fireworks that represent a playful and affectionate overview of the composer’s entire wealth of experience. The plot of the opera is as simple as it is brilliant: A motley crew of eccentric visitors from various European countries are planning to travel to Reims (which was then the centre of power, comparable to Brussels today) but are prevented from arriving at their destination. During their involuntary wait, these highly individual European characters mingle – some eyeing each other warily, some making eyes at each other. Most importantly, however, they make use of every occasion to express their emotions musically by bursting into virtuous song.
Rossini’s last opera in Italian is a masterpiece for an incredible cast of ten leading parts, many supporting parts and choir. Rossini put the skills of his large ensemble to full use, letting the first scene peak in a composition for 14 voices and tailoring his highly virtuous arias and ensembles to the abilities of his singers.
The world premiere in Paris on 19 June 1825 was attended by the King and was received enthusiastically. Rossini (1792– 1868) subsequently withdrew the work and re-used its music for other operas. The opera had long been considered lost, but was rediscovered and performed at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro in 1984, with Claudio Abbado conducting. Since then, it has graced many season programmes.
The Italian director Andrea Bernard from Bolzano will stage Rossini’s comedy at the Salzburg State Theatre. He also presented “Carmen” at the theatre tent and recently dazzled the opera world with a new production of “Don Carlo” in Como. First Kapellmeister Carlo Benedetto Cimento, who has enthralled Salzburg audiences with “Il barbiere di Siviglia” and “Lucio Silla”, will be conducting.
We would like to thank Salzburg Airport W. A. Mozart for the loans.
Duration: 3h / one break
Reviews
„Im Ensemblehöhepunkt, dem 13-stimmigen Gran pezzo concertato, zeigt sich aber auch die kollektive Energie der weitgehend passgenau ausgewählten Sängerpersönlichkeiten: keine geringe Leistung für die Kapazitäten dieses Theaters.“
„Lustvoll und pointiert, mit überschäumendem Witz werden Geschichten über Geschichten erzählt. Die Spielfreude des Ensembles kennt ebensowenig Grenzen wie der Erfindungsreichtum der Regie. Ganz wesentlich: Das ist alles auf den Punkt hin getrimmt und entspricht dem Rädchenwerk der Musik-Maschinerie. Ein Timing, wie man es sich wünscht.“
Selected performance
Fr 10/11/2024 07.30 pm
Salzburger Landestheater
Performances
Audio introduction
von Anna N. M. Lea
Cast (on 10/11/2024)
Musical Director
Tobias Meichsner
Director
Andrea Bernard
State Design
Alberto Beltrame
Costume Design
Elena Beccaro
Choreography
Daniel Therrien
Dramaturgy
Anna N. M. Lea
Corinna
Anita Giovanna Rosati
Marchesa Melibea
Katie Coventry
Contessa Folleville
Nicole Lubinger
Madama Cortese
Amber Norelai
Il Cavalier Belfiore
Hyunduk Kim
Il Conte di Libenskof
Theodore Browne
Lord Sidney
George Humphreys
Don Profondo
Daniele Macciantelli
Barone di Trombonok
Pasquale Greco
Don Alvaro
Yevheniy Kapitula
Don Prudenzio
Miha Brkinjač
Don Luigino/Zeffirino
Alexander Hüttner
Delia / Maddalena
Mona Akinola
Modestina
Kay Heles
Antonio
Željko Zaplatić
Bewegungschor
Daniel Therrien
Minori Therrien
Victoria D’Agostino
Paulo Muniz
Orchester Mozarteumorchester Salzburg