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Since Rossini's coronation opera was rediscovered in 1984, this showcase of bel canto has gained a permanent place in the repertoire. At the same time, the story about the noble spa guests and their failed travel plan is a wonderful piece of absurd theater that Jan Bosse staged as a satire about the “Hospital Europa”.



  • Conductor: Alessandro De Marchi
  • Production: Jan Bosse

With Lilit Davtyan, Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Hye-Young Moon, Hulkar Sabirova, Kangyoon Shine Lee, Omar Mancini, Joel Allison, Artur Garbas, Philipp Jekal, Kyle Miller and others.



The viaggio to Reims


About the work

In the “Hotel zur Goldenen Lily” a colorful group prepares to continue their journey to the coronation of Charles X in Reims. At the last moment, however, it turns out that there are no more horses to be found for the trip - the group is stuck.


In the opera IL VIAGGIO A REIMS, Gioacchino Rossini and his librettist Luigi Balochi use this basic situation of uncertainty and waiting to create a space in which the 14 main roles, which are largely equal, can meet without restriction and present themselves extensively with original and virtuoso arias.


The subject of the opera corresponds to the occasion for which it was commissioned: As part of the coronation festivities of Charles Create celebration.


IL VIAGGIO A REIMS was linked by its plot to the event of the coronation and therefore, from Rossini's point of view, was not intended to last forever. He himself referred to the work as a cantata throughout his life and quickly used musical material from it in one of his French operas, LE COMTE ORY. As a result, the opera was considered lost for a long time and was only performed again in Pesaro in the 1980s under Claudio Abbado.


Luckily - because despite its occasional character, the last of Rossini's Italian-language operas is a gem in which he takes both the musical virtuosity and the absurd humor to the extreme. Rossini created a kind of “best of” Italian opera buffa.


It's worth taking a closer look at the characters in IL VIAGGIO A REIMS. Some of the characters come largely from Madame de Stäel's popular novel, “Corinne ou l’Italie”.


At the same time, they also represent 19th century Europe gathering to pay homage to the French king, and are portrayed in a clichéd manner as clear representatives.


For staging


In his production, director Jan Bosse underlines the absurd basic situation of Europe waiting in a bathing hotel. A mirror room that oscillates between a health clinic, a sanatorium and an insane asylum forms the starting point for the non-journey of the protagonists, who cultivate their national characteristics with devotion, engage in a breathtaking competition for the boldest coloraturas and ultimately decide to have a celebration of their own to put legs.


approx. 2 hours 45 minutes / One intermission

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Additional information
In Italian with German and English surtitles

Dramma giocoso in one act; Libretto by Giuseppe Luigi Balochi

First performed on 19th June 1825 at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris

Premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on 15th June 2018


Pre-performance lecture (in German): 45 minutes prior to each performance
Participating artists
Alessandro De Marchi (Musikalische Leitung)
Jan Bosse (Inszenierung)
Stéphane Laimé (Bühne)
Kathrin Plath (Kostüme)
Kevin Sock (Licht)
Meika Dresenkamp (Video)
Lilit Davtyan (Corinna)
Stephanie Wake-Edwards (Marchesa Melibea)
Hye-Young Moon (Contessa di Folleville)
Martina Russomanno (Madama Cortese)
Kangyoon Shine Lee (Cavalier Belfiore)
Omar Mancini (Il Conte di Libenskof)
Joel Allison (Lord Sidney)
Artur Garbas (Don Profondo)
Philipp Jekal (Barone di Trombonok)
Kyle Miller (Don Alvaro)
Padraic Rowan (Don Prudenzio)
Chance Jonas-O'Toole (Zefirino)
Alexandra Ionis (Maddalena)
Alexandra Oomens (Modestina)
Davia Bouley (Delia)
Jared Werlein (Antonio)
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Orchester)
Dates
December 2024
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