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Il viaggio a Reims, ossia L'albergo del Giglio d'oro

[The Journey to Rheims, or The Inn of the Golden Lily]

Dramma giocoso in one act by
LUIGI BALOCHI

First performance:
Paris – Théâtre Italien
19 June 1825

Critical Edition by
JANET L. JOHNSON

FONDAZIONE ROSSINI PESARO 1999

CHARACTERS:
CORINNA, celebrated Roman improvisatory poetess, soprano
LA MARCHESA MELIBEA, a Polish lady, widow of an Italian general killed on the very day of his wedding in a surprise enemy attack, contralto
LA CONTESSA DI FOLLEVILLE, a young widow full of charm and vivacity and fashion-crazy, soprano
MADAMA CORTESE, a lively, sweet lady, born in the Tyrol, wife of a French traveling salesman and proprietess of the spa, soprano
IL CAVALIER BELFIORE, a young, cheery, and elegant French officer who courts all the ladies, particularly the Contessa di Folleville, and who delights in painting, tenor
IL CONTE DI LIBENSKOF, a Russian general of an impetuous nature, in love with the Marchesa Melibea and extremely jealous, tenor
LORD SIDNEY, English colonel, secretly in love with Corinna
DON PROFONDO, a man of letters, friend of Corinna, member of various academies, fanatical about antiques, bass
IL BARONE DI TROMBONOK, a German major, crazy about music, bass
DON ALVARO, a Spanish grandee, general officer of the navy, in love with Melibea, bass
DON PRUDENZIO, a physician at the spa, bass
DON LUIGINO, cousin of the Contessa di Folleville, tenor
DELIA, a young Greek orphan under the protection of Corinna, and her travelling companion, mezzo-soprano
MADDALENA, a native of Caux in Normandy, housekeeper at the spa, soprano
MODESTINA, an absent-minded, timid, sluggish girl, maid of the Contessa di Folleville, mezzo-soprano
ZEFIRINO, a messenger, tenor
ANTONIO, a steward, bass
GELSOMINO, a servant, tenor
Four strolling musicians
Mixed chorus of peasant men and women, male and female gardeners, servants;
dancers of both sexes, servants of the travellers, silent

The scene is set in Plombières at the spa "Golden Lily"

Instrumentation: 3 Flutes (including Flauto obbligato)/Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Serpent, Timpani, Banda turca, Harp, Strings
Performance time: 3h

Rossini's last Italian opera–the first he wrote for France–was written for the festivities celebrating the coronation of Charles X. Conceived for the greatest voices of the time, including Giuditta Pasta as the poetess Corinna, it requires an exceptional cast: three prima donna sopranos, an alto, two tenors, and four baritones and basses have leading roles. The orchestra was reinforced with soloists from the Opéra, and the lavish production included a ballet company of forty. One of the glories of the score is the audacious "Gran Pezzo Concertato a 14 Voci," while the national toasts of the Finale are taken from patriotic songs or based on national musical styles. The music whirls with vivacity and drive.

Rossini permitted only three additional performances of this celebratory work. In 1828 he reused about half the score for Le Comte Ory. The manuscript sources of Viaggio were presumed lost until, in the mid-1970s, part of the autograph was recovered at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, while other sources were found in Paris (including much of the original performing material–itself revised for later uses) and Vienna. The critical edition, based on these sources, restores this magnificent work to the repertoire.

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