Il viaggio a Reims

At the spa hotel The Golden Lily, the housekeeper Maddalena is chivvying the other servant and gardeners to hasten their preparations for their new arrivals (‘Presto, presto...su, coraggio!’). The day of the great journey (to the coronation of Charles X) has arrived, and there is a lot to do. The other servants make fun of Maddalena, who is notorious for getting angry at them over nothing. They wind her up until she is about to burst, when Don Prudenzio, the doctor at the spa, interrupts the argument. He is explaining to the spa attendants that no one will be taking their baths today as everyone is focused on the journey (‘Benche, grazie al mio talento’). The spa attendants are delighted to have the day off. Prudenzio wishes to examine the preparations that Antonio, the hotel’s major-domo, has been seeing to. Their illustrious guests are leaving today, to go on their great journey, but everything must be perfect for their departure.

Madame Cortese, one of the spa’s owners, is