UNITEL and CLASSICA present Gaetano Donizetti La Fille du Régiment from the Wiener Staatsoper Natalie Dessay Juan Diego Flórez Carlos Álvarez Montserrat Caballé aetano Donizetti may have achieved immortality with La Fille Ghis comic operas “Don Pasquale” and “L‘Elisir d‘amore,” and won a lasting place in the hearts of coloratura sopranos everywhere with “Maria Stuarda” and “Lucia di Lammermoor,” but for sheer entertainment, his “La Fille du Régiment” can‘t du Régiment be beat. Especially when it‘s served in such a saucy, light- footed way by director Laurent Pelly in this coproduction of the Vienna State Opera, London‘s Covent Garden and New York‘s Metropolitan Opera. The plot revolves around Marie, the “daughter of the regiment,” who was found on the battlefield as a baby and raised by the soldiers as their daughter. She falls in love with the young Tyrolean Tonio, who joins the regiment in order to be near her. When the Marquise de Birkenfeld hears about Marie, she claims that she is her long-lost niece, whom she will turn into a lady... Her plans backfire, of course, as Marie will never abandon her Tonio and most certainly never become a lady! French soprano Natalie Dessay, not only a dazzling singer but also a gifted actress, effortlessly sweeps her castmates along in this turbulent buffo delight of an opera. “She laughed, mugged, cried and danced through her part ... And she sang. Oh, how she sang,” gushed George Jahn (Associated Press). Her partner is Juan Diego Flórez, one of Music by Gaetano Donizetti the leading young tenors of our time. Clad in lederhosen, he Conducted by Yves Abel cheerfully seduces Marie – and the audience – with his voice Orchestra Orchester der and his looks. And he effectively brings down the house with Wiener Staatsoper his jauntily tossed-off aria “Pour mon âme” and its nine high Cs. Marie Natalie Dessay Baritone Carlos Álvarez gives an unforgettably comical Tonio Juan Diego Flórez account of Sergeant Sulpice, who watches over Marie and Sulpice Carlos Álvarez would much rather have her marry a Duke than a Tyrolean Duchesse de Crakentorp Montserrat Caballé peasant. But perhaps the most uproarious moment in the performance is the scene-stealing appearance of the Staged by Laurent Pelly grandiose Montserrat Caballé as the Duchess of Krakenthorp, Video Director Brian Large a non-singing cameo role that she speaks multilingually, partly Length approx. 120' improvised, and with irresistible charm. And, to the delight of all, she sings the Swiss yodeling song “S‘Schätzeli,” one of her favorite recital encores. Yves Abel leads the Vienna State A production of ORF and Unitel Classica Opera Orchestra in this rousing interpretation of a work that in co-operation with the Wiener Staatsoper holds its own with Donizetti‘s beloved warhorses! shot in HDTV 1080 Cat. no. A04001502 WORLD SALES: C Major Entertainment · Elmar Kruse & Nadja Joost Photos: © Wiener Staatsoper GmbH / Axel Zeininger All rights reserved · credits not contractual · Different territories +49-(0)3030306464 · [email protected].