"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night." (Bette Davis)
On their way to the royal coronation, a motley group of people of different nationalities are stranded in the hotel "Zur goldenen Lilie". Actually just passing through on their way to Reims, this is where bizarre characters meet. Playful jealousies and rendezvous alternate and fortunately offer all kinds of opportunities for musical virtuosity. When it becomes clear that the onward journey is not possible, chaos breaks out. Without further ado, they organize a celebration of their own, where they can finally show off the performances they had originally dedicated to the king.
Rossini's "The Journey to Reims" was written to celebrate the coronation of Charles X. The composer wrote a farce that not only rises above the superficialities of the nobility, but also above operatic clichés, creating an opera buffa with great ease, featuring the most beautiful bel canto arias and absurd humor.
Premiere February 14, 2026
Further performances: February 19 and 28, March 13 and 22, May 26, 2026
