Rossini
Il viaggio a Reims
Philadelphia Premiere
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Luigi Balocchi
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Exactly 200 years ago, Rossini dared to celebrate the coronation of Charles X with this ebullient satire of class, manners, and the timeless misery of long-distance travel. In his long-awaited American debut, Olivier Award-winning director Damiano Michieletto transforms this showpiece into a theatrical work of art, setting the story in a present-day gallery on the cusp of opening a major exhibition. The production’s rich narrative and visual palette shade Rossini’s joyful musical canvas, blurring the line between life and art. Jack Mulroney Music Director Corrado Rovaris leads a sparkling ensemble cast featuring the luminous soprano Brenda Rae.
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MapAcademy of Music
| Fri, Sep 19 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sun, Sep 21 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Fri, Sep 26 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sun, Sep 28 | 2:00 p.m. |
Runtime is 3 hours and 15 minutes including one 20-minute intermission
Production from Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam, Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen, and Opera Australia
Artwork: Fragments (Turning Back), 2024, courtesy of Joanna van Son and General Assembly. Photo by Jack and Jess Hall.
Cast & Creative Team
- Eleonora Gravagnola * Revival Director
- Elizabeth Braden Chorus Master
- *Opera Philadelphia debut
Composer
Gioachino Rossini
Rossini is the first great Italian composer of the 19th century. For a time, Rossini was the most influential composer in the world. But by his death in 1868, many of his operas were no longer played. By the turn of the century, he was known to most people as the composer of a single opera (The Barber of Seville), several overtures, and one religious work (Stabat Mater). Only since the 1950's has Rossini been given the credit he is due. This is a result of committed scholarship and the availability of singers who have mastered the difficult technique that proper Rossini singing requires. Many of his works have been re-evaluated, produced on stage, and recorded. Each August, Rossini’s hometown of Pesaro holds a festival in which at least one of his rare works is staged. Today he once again is considered a major influence in the development of both Italian and French opera. Read more >>