Not the Best DVD
I saw a tape of another production of "Daughter of the Regiment" and it was fantastic. The DVD I received from Amamzon was different, although the cast was the same. The quality of the film was poor, the lighting was bad, and there was a different conductor. All in all, it did not have the same electricity as the first production that I saw.
"La Fille" a delight for the eyes and the ears
Marvelous singing, fun to watch, wonderful acting and great comic timing by Natalie Dessay, 9 high Cs by Juan Diego Florez. If you want to buy only one bel canto opera buffa, get this one.
Another comedic masterpiece
I remember seeing a traditional La Fille a long time ago; I was bored stiff. But on the strength of the many 5 star reviews, I took a risk on this La Fille.
Do it! Like the Le Elisir d'amore with Netrebko and Villazon Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore / Eschwe, Netrebko, Villazon, Wiener Staatsoper, it takes middling music and makes it tremendous fun. Don't let the anachronistic setting (WW I?) scare you off; this is one of those cases where it works.
Dessay starts out as a near-manic, but her acting quickly turns the prosaic story into a dramatic hoot.
And then there's Florez' high C's: enough said.
I haven't seen the competing La Fille with Ciofi and Florez, but this one is simply too much fun. ... Read More
Donizetti - La fille du regiment - Dessay and Florez
This is the first opera I have ever bought on DVD, and because it has been such a joyful experience, it won't be the last. I watched twice with my 3 daughters (10, 12 and 14 years old) and we were glued to the screen the whole time.
It is set during WWI. A baby girl has been raised from infancy by a French regiment. She falls in love with Tonio, a civilian, but she has promised to marry a member of the regiment. And, of course, her long-lost mother reappears to bring her home. So - will the 2 lovers ever be allowed to unite ?
The plot is light as fluff. It is a Comic Opera, so anyone expecting a serious spectacle is watching the wrong thing. One of the background sets is ugly, but utilitarian - and are we watching this ... Read More
Enhanced Donizetti
I was not a big fan of Donizetti's operas til now. I used to find them kind of shallow, music and plot-wise. However, this version of La fille du Regiment from Covent Garden proved me completely wrong. A great stage production can make a big difference in the way you perceive an opera, and this is a perfect example of that. The other JDF's DVD of this same opera (Genova) falls short compared with this delicious Covent Garden version. Dessay is the big star of the show, she is simply fantastic. Great actress and great singer. JDF is always good but he is completely overshadowed here by the energetic and amazing Dessay. However, the most important thing is that this La Fille du Regiment acquires a different dimension under the stage direction ... Read More
