Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment
Laurent Pelly (stage director), Yves Abel (conductor) — With Natalie Dessay (Marie), Juan Diego Flórez (Tonio) and Montserrat Caballé (Duchess of Krakenthorp)
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Cast
Laurent Pelly — Stage director, costumes
Chantal Thomas — Scenography
Joël Adam — Lighting
Agathe Melinand — Assistant director
Laura Scozzi — Choreographer
Natalie Dessay — Marie
Juan Diego Flórez — Tonio
Janina Baechle — Marquise de Berkenfield
Carlos Álvarez — Sulpice
Clemens Unterreiner — Hortensius
Montserrat Caballé — Duchesse de Crakentorp
Wiener Staatsopernchor
Thomas Lang — Chorus director
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Yves Abel — Conductor
Program notes
Discover Gaetano Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment, staged by Laurent Pelly at the Vienna State Opera! The plot centres on Marie, a girl raised by soldiers when found on the battlefield as an infant. Years later, Marie falls in love with Tonio, who joins the regiment to be with her. When the Marquise of Birkenfeld hears about Marie, she pretends to be her aunt and helps her become a lady of fashion, but her motivations are completely different: she wants Marie to marry her nephew, the Duke of Crakenthorp.
Laurent Pelly joins forces with an impressive number of singers, including several extraordinary soloists. The exceptional Natalie Dessay sings beautifully, but also laughs, shouts, and dances. Juan Diego Flórez, an outstanding tenor of his generation, enchants Marie and the audience by his voice and tender looks. The performance of the grandiose Montserrat Caballé—who makes a theatrical appearance and charmingly improvises in different languages in the role of the Duchess of Krakenthorp— is a particular highlight.
