One of the World’s most famous artworks has come to life in the Sydney premiere of Rossini’s opulent opera, Il Viaggio a Reims, currently playing in the Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House until 2 November 2019.
Originally written to celebrate the coronation of French King Charles X in 1825, the lavish and highly entertaining opera tells the story of a group travelling to the coronation for which it was written.
In Damiano Michieletto’s imaginative and visually striking production, the setting is moved to an art gallery, where the eccentric characters find themselves surrounded by the world’s most famous artworks as they come to life including paintings by Frida Kahlo, Keith Haring and Vincent van Gogh.
The production brings together the crème de la crème of local and international singers to perform as part of the sixteen strong principal cast including star Russian soprano Irina Lungu and popular baritones Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Giorgio Caoduro.
Australian favourites taking the stage include Warwick Fyfe, Julie Lea Goodwin, Sian Sharp and Conal Coad. Opera Australia Young Artist Shanul Sharma will perform the role of Conte di Libenskof, arguably one of the most difficult roles in the opera repertoire for a tenor.
Australian conductor Daniel Smith will be making his Sydney debut leading this mammoth cast. Currently Principal Conductor at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy, Smith rapidly gained international acclaim after winning First Prize, the Golden Baton and the Orchestra’s Choice Prize, in UNESCO’s International Conducting Competition.
The brilliant combination of Paolo Fantin’s sets and Carla Teti’s costumes will transport audiences to the sensational and visually rich world envisioned by Michieletto. Iconic paintings have been recreated with remarkable fidelity; bringing together a collection of the world’s best known artworks culminating in a grand scale tableau vivant.
A co-production with the Dutch National Opera and Royal Danish Opera, Opera Australia is delighted to present this highly entertaining and imaginative production of Rossini’s incredible and rarely performed work.
Conductor: Daniel Smith Director: Damiano Michieletto Featuring: Jennifer Black, Giorgio Caoduro, Conal Coad, Juan de Dios Mateos, Warwick Fyfe, Luke Gabbedy, Julie Lea Goodwin, Stuart Haycock, Christopher Hillier, John Longmuir, Irina Lungu, Eva Kong, Emma Pearson, Kathryn Radcliffe, Shanul Sharma, Sian Sharp, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Opera Australia Chorus, Opera Australia Orchestra Revival Director: Constantine Costi Set Designer: Paolo Fantin Costume Designer: Carla Teti Lighting Designer: Alessandro Carletti
Il Viaggio A Reims
Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
Season continues to 2 November 2019
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Julie Lea Goodwin as Madama Cortese, Giorgio Caoduro as Don Profondo and Shanul Sharma as Conte di Libenskof in Opera Australia’s 2019 production of Il Viaggio a Reims – photo by Jeff Busby