Search - Donizetti, La Fenice Orchestra & Chorus :: La Figlia Del Reggimento

An opera ahead of its time, and a great score to boot

07/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Who would have thought an opera written some two hundred years ago could be so ahead of its time? Marie is the heroine of this one, a 'daughter' of a regiment in Napoleon's army, found to them as an orphan. She sings, she marches, she drinks. Naturally, a soldier falls in love with her; Tonio, a soldier from the enemy side. Captured by Marie's regiment, he manages to join their forces in hopes to marry Marie. However, life can never be that sweet in an opera, can it? Marie's 'aunt' comes and takes her from the regiment to train her in the ways of being a lady. A wedding is arranged for her to the son of the Duchess of Krakenthorpe. Poor Marie also finds it rather hard to be ladylike after growing up with men. At the signing of the wedding contract, the regiment shows up, along with Tonio. Marie considers not signing the contract, and in an act of desperation, her aunt confesses that she is really her mother. Out of daughterly duty Marie agrees to sign, but is stopped at the last minute by her mother, and told to marry the man she loves. With a score that is sometimes rompy, sometimes heart-wrenching, opera go-ers and listeners get something rather unexpected from an opera; a damn good time."