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London,
Evening Standard rating
Reader rating
Dir: Laurent Pelly.
Cast: The Royal Opera, Bruno Campanella (cond), Chantal Thomas (des), Natalie Dessay (Marie), Juan Diego Florez (Tonio), Colin Lee (Tonio, Jan 27), Felicity Palmer (La Marquise De Berkenfeld), Alessandro Corbelli (Sulpice Pingot), Donald Maxwell (Hortensius)
Description: Laurent Pelly directs a new staging of Donizetti's exuberant comedy in which the beautiful Marie - found as a baby on the battlefield and raised by the regiment - falls for Tonio, much to the dismay of her military fathers. Conducted by Bruno Campanella and featuring Natalie Dessay as Marie. Sung in French with English surtitles.
Great location: La Fille du Regiment is performed in Holland Park
When it comes to opera, what wrenches the heart remains more or less constant but what makes us laugh is forever shifting. In the case of Donizetti, the serious operas still seem full-blooded, while comedies such as La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) now seem undernourished.
Most modern productions compensate with strenuous knockabout, and while there are many virtues in William Kerley’s new staging for Opera Holland Park, not least Tom Rogers’s economical set, it cannot resist overplaying the rather wan humour.
The plot concerns Marie, a foundling brought up as a member of the French army. She falls in love, but when her aristocratic roots are revealed, she is forced into an unwelcome marriage, from which she is rescued only at the altar. Routinely sentimental stuff, for which Donizetti produced some lively music.
In Hye-Youn Lee, the production is blessed with a singer whose voice is bright, clean and agile. She plays Marie as a tomboy, and if there are moments of vocal sharpness, they suit the interpretation. As Tonio, the man she loves, Luciano Botelho faces some of the stiffest challenges that Italian bel canto ever threw at a singer. He fights manfully but it isn’t only the rapid-fire top Cs in his big showpiece that uncover a raw edge to his voice.
As Donizetti intended, these two dominate proceedings but there are nice comic turns from Graeme Broadbent, who plays the regimental sergeant as Basil Fawlty, and from Sarah Pring, the icy aristocrat who eventually reveals a heart of gold. Holland Park’s open-air acoustic lends a bracingly rustic edge to the wind instruments of City of London Sinfonia, Robert Dean conducts with cool efficiency, and as usual in these parts, the local peacocks show their appreciation by joining in at inopportune moments.
Until 21 June. Information: 0845 230 9769.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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This was an exhilarating start to the season, and the cast were in as fine form as is to be heard at Holland Park. The Korean soprano, Hye-Youn Lee was a ravishing delight, and completely at ease on stage. Her voice rang out clearly and prettily; pitch perfect. Luciano Botelho sang with a sweet, lyrical tenor. He managed the high Cs of 'Ah, mes amis', but was more at ease in other arias. He was rather eclipsed by 'Marie's' verve and energy, and Sulpice's comedic acting. All on stage sang and acted nicely and were well cast. The music, by Donizetti, was tuneful and the audience were very well entertained.
- Lesley Winograd, London
