ROSSINI, G.: Viaggio a Reims (Il) (Liceu, 2003) (PAL)

Gioachino ROSSINI
II viaggio a Reims

Libretto by: Luigi Balocchi
Stage Director: Sergi Belbel
Choreography: Keith Morino

DV-OPVAR

Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorphic
Sound Format: LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Running Time: 164 mins
Region Code: PAL All
Booklet Languages: GB, F, D, SP
Recording Date: March 2003

TDK presents an ebullient and colourful staging of Rossini's one-act dramma giocoso at the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Barcelona.

This opera was originally commissioned for the coronation of Charles X as King of France in Reims cathedral; thus it was written not for the stage, but for a special occasion, which Rossini did not intend to become part of the repertory: he only permitted it to be performed a few times so as to be free to re-use the music, which he did mainly in Le Comte Ory (1828). The opera has also suffered from the difficulty of assembling a cast more than three times that of a normal opera buffa and composed exclusively of outstanding virtuosi.

The undeniable attraction of Viaggio a Reims lies in the libretto, with its biting irony and playfulness characteristic of Rossini's comic operas and above all in the extraordinarily brilliant score, comprising arias, duets and ensembles that afford ample scope for the singers to show off their talents and feature some of Rossini's most elaborate and spectacular vocal writing.