Rossini: Il Viaggio a Reims (Jesus Lopez Cobos) (2004) DVD9+DVD5

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 uber
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."

Performer:
Corinna - Elena de la Merced
La Marchesa Melibea - Paula Rasmussen
La Contessa di Folleville - Mariola Cantarero
Madama Cortese - Maria Bayo
Il Cavaliere Belfiore - Jose Bros
Il Conte di Libenskof - Kenneth Tarver
Lord Sidney - Simon Orfila
Don Profondo - Nicola Ulivieri
Il Barone di Trombonok - Enzo Dara
Don Alvaro - Angel Odena
Don Prudenzio - Stephen Morscheck
Don Luigino - Josep Ruiz
Delia - Claudia Schneider
Maddalena - Mireia Pinto
Modestina - Merce Obiol
Zefirino - David Alegret
Antonio - Alex Sanmarti
Gelsomino - Jordi Casanova
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu
Conductor - Jesus Lopez Cobos



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