Il Viaggio a Reims

An operatic drama that Rossini himself did not expect to last beyond a handful of performances due to its demanding and expensive nature, Il Viaggio a Reims (The Journey to Reims) has become one of the composer’s most popular and sought after works. It requires 14 soloists, one contralto, two tenors, four basses, four baritones, and three sopranos, to pull off. Rossini composed it for the grand coronation of King Charles X in 1825, and it was sung by some of the most accomplished artists of the era in its premiere. This will be the first time Il Viaggio a Reims will be running in Australia. Director Damiano Micheletto’s lighthearted and jubilant take on the classic, a slew of talented international artists, and the jaw-dropping costume, set, and lighting makes for a fascinating watch at the Melbourne Opera this season.

The Story

Il Viaggio a Reims is an opera about a group of wealthy and eccentric European aristocrats who are headed to Reims to attend the coronation of Charles X. From the fashion-crazed Contessa di Folleville and her sick maid Modestina to the jealous Russian Count Libenskof, the guests are intriguing and pointedly quirky. The guests await their departure from the Giglio d’oro owned by Madama Cortese. Due to a sudden lack of transport facilities, the guests find themselves trapped with each other with no hope of reaching Reims in time for the coronation. What ensues is a delightful and humorous series of events that are punctuated by the emphatic vocals of fourteen different singers on stage!

Good for

Fans of Italian Opera | Gioachino Rossini Fans