This recording includes musical elements that were either cut in previous performances or were later additions not by Rossini, such as the chorus "L'allegria è un sommo bene" and the full recitatives.
Composition History
The opera "Il viaggio a Reims" was specifically tailored to celebrate the coronation festivities for Charles X, the King of France.
Recording & Production
This recording of "Il viaggio a Reims" is the first complete version on CD, adhering to the critical edition prepared by Fondazione Rossini and Casa Ricordi.
Composition History
Rossini did not believe his opera, "Il viaggio a Reims," a "little occasional work," had a future, and he later reused much of its music in "Le Comte Ory."
Critical Reception
Despite Rossini's own doubts, a critic named Charles Maurice predicted in 1825 that "Il viaggio a Reims" might outlive the occasion for which it was written, a prediction that proved true almost 160 years later.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rossini considered "Il viaggio a Reims" a "cantata," a term he used for works outside the main repertoire, meaning their music was either reused or originated from earlier works.
Critical Reception
The opera was considered "impossible to perform" for many years due to the unparalleled cast of star singers required for its 1984 revival under Claudio Abbado.
