Rossini - Il Viaggio a Reims (Jesus Lopez Cobos) [2004] RE-UPLOAD

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Rossini - Il Viaggio a Reims (Jesus Lopez Cobos) [2004] RE-UPLOAD

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Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims was written rapidly in Paris in 1825 to commemorate the coronation of Charles X. Its "plot" concerns a group of international bigwigs who are waiting for their carriages at a spa near Rheims, where they are to be taken to attend the coronation. The carriages don't show up, and the group puts on its own celebration. At the opera's end–the final 20 minutes–each character acknowledges his own heritage (i.e., the Englishman sings "God save the King", the Spaniard sings to a Flamenco rhythm, and so forth) as their flags descend from the stage's heights. The occasional love intrigue pops up (a Russian General and a Spanish Grandee both fall for a Polish widow); a countess is desolate about losing her hatbox; there is a braggart German musicologist; a Roman Poetess recites, accompanied by a harp, which drives the Englishman to a rapturous aria; and in one of Rossini's most magnificent moments, the 10 principal singers and four secondary ones join in a huge, 10-minute ensemble. And there's much more. It may not equal a great dramatic experience, but it's charming pageantry and a great excuse for great singing. (Since it was only performed four times in 1825, Rossini withdrew it and re-used much of the music in his opera Le Comte Ory.)
This premise allows for great whimsy, and this 2003 performance at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, directed by Sergi Balbel, is charming. The action has been moved to the late 19th century, but the arrogance–and foolishness–of the ruling classes and always-pervasive Nationalism are just as pertinent, and the spa setting allows for some wacky, as well as elegant, colorful costuming and behavior. The conductor enters from the stage in a bathrobe and enters the pit as if it were a swimming pool; characters wander around the opera house, and so on.
But the opera is about nothing if not singing, and for the most part the Liceu did itself proud with the large cast. Best are tenor Kenneth Tarver as Count Libenskof and mezzo Paula Rasmussen as Marchesa Melibea, both dazzling in their duet. Also notable are soprano Elena de la Merced as the poetess Corinna, singing with bell-like tone, Josep Bros expertly managing Belfiore's high tenor line, and the omni-present-in-Rossini-opera Enzo Dara, still using his bass-baritone with agility, style, and wit as the German, Baron di Trombonok (whose National song unfortunately is "Deutschland über alles"). Aside from these plusses, some of the lower men's voices are disappointingly clumsy in their difficult music.
During Corinna's final aria, in praise of Charles X, the director suddenly–and unwisely–opted to make a political statement by projecting, on the back wall, slides of military scenes, people behind barbed wire, Picasso's "Guernica", Stalin, Hitler, fleeing Laotian children, Princess Di, and George W. Bush, among others. It does nothing for the music or situation.
Jesus Lopez-Cobos manages a perfect balance between the score's bubbly and long-lined, more lyrical moments, and the ensemble work is ideal. The sound (a choice of Stereo, Digital 5.1, and 5.1) and picture are spotless; subtitles are provided in four languages. Toni Bargallo's direction for the screen catches scenes of intimacy and long-shots with equal intelligence. This opera is one of Rossini's nearly-forgotten masterpieces (it was only rediscovered about 20 years ago) and this is a terrific performance of it, George W. Bush and Princess Di notwithstanding. - Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
Fanfare:
"Taken from the stage of the Liceu in Barcelona, the production of Il viaggio a Reims is a delight from beginning to end. With its setting embracing a hot tub and a swimming pool, the lavishness of the spa is captured nearly perfectly and it provides a very flexible performing space, which also allows considerable intimacy when needed…One particularly witty touch is to base the bathing costumes of the characters on the flags of their country of origin… The cast is top notch…The sound is excellent and the video work is very fine. There is a well-written essay as part of the booklet and subtitles in several languages. Enthusiastically recommended."

- John Story, FANFARE

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Rossini - Il Viaggio a Reims (Jesus Lopez Cobos) [2004] RE-UPLOAD

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