La fille du Régiment

After conquering Italy while still in his thirties, a mature Donizetti moved to Paris, his sights set on a new musical frontier. “A veritable invasion” (to quote a sour Hector Berlioz) followed, with the composer’s operas established in all the major Parisian opera houses. While grand opera and serious works dominate this period, it also yielded the boisterous, big-hearted comedy of manners La fille du régiment (1840). Tomboy Marie is an orphan, discovered, adopted and raised by a French regiment stationed in Tyrol during the Napoleonic Wars. Marie has fallen in love with Tonio, a local boy, but her hopes are dashed when her noble origins are revealed and she’s whisked off to become a lady. But love conquers all and, after some more revelations (and a lot of military songs and marches), the two are reunited to general rejoicing. There’s a real brilliance and freshness to La fille, mostly thanks to the thrilling vocal writing. Marie and Tonio are heart-on-sleeve lovers who pour out their feelings in runs, leaps and spectacular high notes. Tonio’s Act I aria “Ah! Mes amis”, with no fewer than eight top Cs, has become a favourite showpiece for tenors. The non-singing role of the Duchess of Crackentorp has also become an unexpected star vehicle: Kathleen Turner, Dawn French and even Ruth Bader Ginsburg have all performed the role on stage.