Organization

Donizetti Opera

Singer

Soprano

Sara Blanch

Marie

Dramaturge

Stefano Simone Pintor

Conductor

Michele Spotti

Choreographer

Laura Domingo

Costume designer

Maikel Martinez

Set designer

Angelo Sala

Stage director

Luis Ernesto Doñas

Lighting designer

Fiammetta Baldiserri

Denia González

Tenor

John Osborn

Tonio

Bass

Paolo Bordogna

Sergeant Sulpice

Haris Andrianos

Hortensius

Cristina Bugatty

The Duchess of Crakentorp

Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba

Fondazione Arena di Verona

Fondazione Teatro Donizetti

Others

Coro dell'Accademia Teatro alla Scala

Orchestra

Orchestra Donizetti Opera

Palazzetto Bru Zane

Assistant to lighting

Emanuele Agliati

Mezzo-soprano

Adriana Bignagni Lesca

The Marquise of Berkenfield

Adolfo Corrado

A corporal

Andrea Civetta

A peasant

Chorus master

Salvo Sgrò

Instrumentalist

Ernesto López Maturell

Percussion

French

Italian

La Fille du régiment -  (The Daughter of the Regiment)

Bergamo

Italy

Glorious comedy and impeccable coloratura combine in Donzetti’s La fille du régiment, incarnated by Marie, the feisty tomboy raised by a regiment of French soldiers. What can stand in the path of true love for Tonio is the young Swiss villager who conquers her heart - and nails a few high Cs on the way? 

Director Luis Ernesto Doñas sets the action in central America, turning the revolutionary French fighting against conservative Tyrol into the struggle for Cuban liberation. Cuba as a place where two worlds confront and clash, a colourful one projected into the future and the other in black and white locked in nostalgic feelings about the past. This production was the unequivocal success of the 2021 Festival Donizetti Bergamo in co-production with the Teatro Lirico Nacional de Cuba, where it has already made a very successful debut. The young Spanish soprano Sara Blanch plays the leading role of Marie, while the role of Tonio, with his legendary aria of at least eight high Cs, is entrusted to the renowned and charismatic American tenor John Osborn.

Teatro Donizetti

PLOT 

ACT I 

A Napoleonic battle rages in the mountains of Tyrol.  The peasants beg for the help of Our Lady, while the Marquise of Berkenfield and her butler Hortensius, caught by the war while they were traveling, are worried about their possessions.  The French arrive: to be precise, Sulplice, sergeant of the twenty-first regiment, and Marie, the foodie, an orphan found on the battlefield and adopted by the rough but tender soldiers who made her fathers.  Marie loves only the music of the drum: for some days, however, she seems to have lost her usual cheerfulness.  Sulplice asks him about her: she has been seen together with an unknown boy.  It is a Tyrolean, she explains, who saved her from falling into a crevasse.  Sulplice reminds her, however, that she can only marry a twenty-first soldier.  At that moment the young man, Tonio, is brought tied into the camp by French soldiers who have taken him for a spy.  Maria intercedes for him and Tonio, in order to stay close to her, decides to enlist.  The soldiers celebrate by asking Marie to sing the regimental song.  Left alone, Marie is joined by Tonio: the two declare their love to each other.  And Tonio, since he is now a soldier of the regiment, asks and obtains from his comrades to marry Marie.  The Marchesa reappears, wanting a pass.  Her name, Berkenfield, appeared on some documents found on little Marie.  The Marquise examines them, declares that Marie is her niece and that he will have to live with her at her castle.  Despair of Tonio and the soldiers: Marie sings a heartbreaking goodbye to her friends and her love. 

ACT II 

In the castle of the Marchesa, scandalized by the soldierly ways of her niece, Marie is taking a singing lesson, but with Sulpice she regrets the cheerful songs of the regiment.  But Marie is told that her marriage is decided and that the guests and her fearsome future mother-in-law, the Duchess of Krakenthorp, will soon arrive.  But the soldiers of the Twenty-first appear first with Tonio, who has been promoted to captain in the meantime.  Marie and Tonio decide to escape.  The Marchesa confesses to Sulplice that in reality Marie is her daughter, the result of the relationship with a French officer.  Marie does not want to contradict her mother.  However, by the time the wedding guests are reunited, Marie fondly remembers her childhood and life as a steward.  The noble guests are scandalized, but the Marchesa is so moved that she renounces the arranged marriage and blesses the marriage between Marie and Tonio.  General happiness. 


PLOT 


ACT I 

A Napoleonic battle rages in the mountains of Tyrol. The peasants are begging for help from the Virgin Mary, while the Marquise of Berkenfield and her butler Hortensius, caught in the war while travelling, are worried about their properties. The French arrive: namely, Sulpice, a sergeant in the Twenty-first Regiment, and Marie, the sutler, an orphan girl found on the battlefield and adopted by the rough but tender soldiers who have since been her fathers. Marie loves nothing more than the music of the drum: for some days, however, she has lost her usual cheerfulness. Sulpice asks her about it: someone saw her with an unknown young man. He is a Tyrolean, she explains, who saved her from falling into a crevasse. Sulpice reminds her, however, that she can only marry a soldier of the XXI regiment. At that moment the young man, Tonio, is brought into the camp by French soldiers who have taken him for a spy and tied him up. Marie intercedes for him and Tonio decides to enlist in the army to stay close to her. The soldiers celebrate by asking Marie to sing the regiment’s song. Left alone, Marie is joined by Tonio: they declare their love to each other. Tonio, now a soldier in the regiment, asks his fellow soldiers to marry Marie and gets their permission. The Marquise is back, asking for a pass. Her name, Berkenfield, was on some documents found on little Marie’s person. The Marquise examines them, declares that Marie is her niece and that she is to live with her at her castle. Tonio and the soldiers despair: Marie sings a tearful farewell to her friends and love. 


ACT II 

In the castle of the Marquise, who is shocked by the soldierly ways of her niece, Marie is taking a singing lesson, but she regrets the merry songs of the regiment alongside Sulpice. But Marie is told that a husband has been chosen for her and that her guests and dreaded future mother-in-law, the Duchess of Krakenthorp, will soon arrive. However, the soldiers of the Twenty-first arrive before her with Tonio, who has been made captain in the meantime. Marie and Tonio decide to flee. The Marquise confesses to Sulpice that Marie is actually her daughter, born from an affair with a French officer. Marie does not want to displease her mother. However, when the wedding guests have gathered, Marie fondly remembers her childhood and life as a sutler. The aristocratic guests are appalled, but the Marquise is so moved that she goes back on the marriage agreement and blesses Marie and Tonio’s wedding. Everyone rejoices.

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