Originally commissioned for the 1825 coronation in Reims, France, of French King Charles X, Il viaggio a Reims (The Journey to Reims) is considered to be one of Rossini’s finest works.
Set in the lobby of an elegant spa hotel in the French countryside, the Pilsen production features 14 soloists from the CCPA/Chicago Opera Theatre Professional Diploma program and graduate-level voice majors as well as the CCPA Orchestra.
Simeone Tartaglione, a versatile musician with extensive conducting experience in Italy, the United States, Spain, Russia, Romania, Mexico, the Ukraine and Bulgaria, is the guest conductor for the production. Chicago-based designer Chelsea Warren, the 2012 winner of the Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award and a 2012 nominee for a Jeff Award, has designed a unique set. Chicagoan Elizabeth Powell Wislar is the costume designer and the lighting design is by Gary Echelmeyer.
The April 2 and 4 shows at Roosevelt’s Ganz Hall will be a mini production featuring graduate singers from CCPA’s voice program accompanied by piano. Emanuele Andrizzi, conductor and director of orchestras at CCPA, will conduct the April performances.
Andrew Eggert, head of opera program at Roosevelt, directs all four performances of Il viaggio. Scott Gilmore, associate professor of opera and vocal coaching and director of the CCPA/COT Professional Diploma in Opera Program, serves as musical director. Dana Brown, associate professor of opera and vocal coaching, directs the chorus.
For more information on these and other CCPA productions, call 312-341-2238 or visit www.roosevelt.edu/ccpa
Source: roosevelt.edu
