Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007)
starring: Natalie Dessay, Juan Diego Florez, Felicity Palmer, Alessandro Corbelli, Dawn French
directed by: Laurent Pelly
directed by: Laurent Pelly
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This DVD version of Donizetti's comic opera zooms right to the top of any list of essential videos for opera fans. It may not be the composer's best work, but given a top-notch production with world class singing actors, it brings vocal thrills and an abundance of laughs, a combination that's hard to beat. The stars are Juan Diego Flórez and Natalie Dessay, both unbeatable in bel canto roles, and both in top form here. Flórez's mellifluous tenor is flexible enough to make child's play of the terrifying (to other tenors) nine high C's in Ah! mes amis," and supple enough to make his tender love arias moving. Dessay is equally comfortable in the stratospheric coloratura passages and poignant in such heart-tugging set-pieces as her farewell to her regimental "fathers" and her misery as the victim of the Marquise's well-meaning attempts to teach her to be an aristocratic lady. She's also a terrific comic actress. In her first appearance she's doing the regiment's laundry, and her antics with the iron and the ironing board while singing elaborately difficult coloratura passages induce belly laughs. But then, so do her comic acting in many other scenes, such as her Act II entry in a silk dress and full petticoat, her walk a wonderful parody of a "lady's" heel-to-toe gait. That moment alone is worth the price of admission. Lesser roles too, are done to perfection. Felicity Palmer, a long-time Covent Garden favorite, is a delicious Marquise de Berkenfield, and Donald Maxwell, is her apt partner as Hortensius, her servant. Sergeant Sulpice, the heroine's protector, is well-sung and acted by Alessandro Corbelli, and Dawn French almost steals the show as the overbearing Duchess. Conductor Bruno Campanella leads a spirited performance, enhanced by the fine playing by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House. Laurent Pelly's stage direction is wonderful for its comic touches and Chantal Thomas' simple but effective sets add to the delights. The video direction efficiently serves the staging, focusing on the action and the singers without adding extraneous shots that detract from the musical flow. All of which makes this DVD a can't-miss for opera fans. --Dan Davis La Fille du regiment is in 16:9 ratio. Sound options include PCM Stereo, Dolby 5.1 Surround and DTS 5.1 Surround. Subtitles include English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.
Description:
In January 2007, superstar soprano Natalie Dessay, joined on stage by acclaimed tenor Juan Diego Florez dazzled British audiences in Laurent Pelly's new production of Donizetti's "LA FILLE DU REGIMENT".The perfectly staged & cast production became the operatic event of the year, receiving rave press reviews & rapturous audience ovations.
This DVD version of Donizetti's comic opera zooms right to the top of any list of essential videos for opera fans. It may not be the composer's best work, but given a top-notch production with world class singing actors, it brings vocal thrills and an abundance of laughs, a combination that's hard to beat. The stars are Juan Diego Flórez and Natalie Dessay, both unbeatable in bel canto roles, and both in top form here. Flórez's mellifluous tenor is flexible enough to make child's play of the terrifying (to other tenors) nine high C's in Ah! mes amis," and supple enough to make his tender love arias moving. Dessay is equally comfortable in the stratospheric coloratura passages and poignant in such heart-tugging set-pieces as her farewell to her regimental "fathers" and her misery as the victim of the Marquise's well-meaning attempts to teach her to be an aristocratic lady. She's also a terrific comic actress. In her first appearance she's doing the regiment's laundry, and her antics with the iron and the ironing board while singing elaborately difficult coloratura passages induce belly laughs. But then, so do her comic acting in many other scenes, such as her Act II entry in a silk dress and full petticoat, her walk a wonderful parody of a "lady's" heel-to-toe gait. That moment alone is worth the price of admission. Lesser roles too, are done to perfection. Felicity Palmer, a long-time Covent Garden favorite, is a delicious Marquise de Berkenfield, and Donald Maxwell, is her apt partner as Hortensius, her servant. Sergeant Sulpice, the heroine's protector, is well-sung and acted by Alessandro Corbelli, and Dawn French almost steals the show as the overbearing Duchess. Conductor Bruno Campanella leads a spirited performance, enhanced by the fine playing by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House. Laurent Pelly's stage direction is wonderful for its comic touches and Chantal Thomas' simple but effective sets add to the delights. The video direction efficiently serves the staging, focusing on the action and the singers without adding extraneous shots that detract from the musical flow. All of which makes this DVD a can't-miss for opera fans. --Dan Davis La Fille du regiment is in 16:9 ratio. Sound options include PCM Stereo, Dolby 5.1 Surround and DTS 5.1 Surround. Subtitles include English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.
Description:
In January 2007, superstar soprano Natalie Dessay, joined on stage by acclaimed tenor Juan Diego Florez dazzled British audiences in Laurent Pelly's new production of Donizetti's "LA FILLE DU REGIMENT".The perfectly staged & cast production became the operatic event of the year, receiving rave press reviews & rapturous audience ovations.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- La Fille du Regiment
A superb performance, but the alleged subtitles -- both the English and the Spanish -- are abominable.There are ridiculously few, and most of them give the beginning of a sentence and then do not finish it.The singing is excellent as is the acting.Juan Diego Florez is the new Caruso, and Natalie Dessay is not only a superb singer, but acts the part of La Fille most charmingly.The others in the cast are all splendid as well.
Rating: - A truly funny comic opera
Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007) I discovered Natalie Dessay's beautiful voice on CDs, then watched a Charlie Rose interview in which she said that to her acting was more important than singing. After seeing this DVD, which is a delight and very funny, Dessay is my favorite soprano. For further evidence, see her Greatest Moments on Stage DVD, which has moments from three different versions of Tales of Hoffmann, ... Read More
Rating: - One of the best renditions of a comic opera
I went and saw this live at the Met in 2008, and it was absolutely outstanding and fun.Juan Diego Florez has been one of my favorite singers since I saw him in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and he doesn't disappoint in this.The DVD is great, and really captures the feeling in the theater.If you like opera, this is a must-see, in the theater or on DVD.The singing, acting and staging is all top-notch.
Rating: - Awesome and fun
One of the most delightful opera performances you'll ever see, even if you don't like opera!The singing is superb throughout the cast. Florez and Dessay are in top form and perfectly cast for their roles. The staging and acting emphasize the fun and romance that is inherent in this form of opera.
Rating: - Fille du Regiment
This opera and this production redefine the term "frothy entertaiment." Dessay and her colleagues play it for laughs, but what else can you do with Donizetti's material? Don't worry about the time shifting, and don't try to impose any historical chronology on the production -- it seems vaguely set during the first world war, but were the French fighting in the Tyrol in that conflict? Not to my knowledge, though Napoleon's troops were there in 1809-10. Did Napoleon's troops have tanks? Unlikely. Don't worry, ... Read More
- La Fille du RegimentA superb performance, but the alleged subtitles -- both the English and the Spanish -- are abominable.There are ridiculously few, and most of them give the beginning of a sentence and then do not finish it.The singing is excellent as is the acting.Juan Diego Florez is the new Caruso, and Natalie Dessay is not only a superb singer, but acts the part of La Fille most charmingly.The others in the cast are all splendid as well.
- A truly funny comic operaGaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007) I discovered Natalie Dessay's beautiful voice on CDs, then watched a Charlie Rose interview in which she said that to her acting was more important than singing. After seeing this DVD, which is a delight and very funny, Dessay is my favorite soprano. For further evidence, see her Greatest Moments on Stage DVD, which has moments from three different versions of Tales of Hoffmann, ... Read More
- One of the best renditions of a comic operaI went and saw this live at the Met in 2008, and it was absolutely outstanding and fun.Juan Diego Florez has been one of my favorite singers since I saw him in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and he doesn't disappoint in this.The DVD is great, and really captures the feeling in the theater.If you like opera, this is a must-see, in the theater or on DVD.The singing, acting and staging is all top-notch.
- Awesome and funOne of the most delightful opera performances you'll ever see, even if you don't like opera!The singing is superb throughout the cast. Florez and Dessay are in top form and perfectly cast for their roles. The staging and acting emphasize the fun and romance that is inherent in this form of opera.
- Fille du RegimentThis opera and this production redefine the term "frothy entertaiment." Dessay and her colleagues play it for laughs, but what else can you do with Donizetti's material? Don't worry about the time shifting, and don't try to impose any historical chronology on the production -- it seems vaguely set during the first world war, but were the French fighting in the Tyrol in that conflict? Not to my knowledge, though Napoleon's troops were there in 1809-10. Did Napoleon's troops have tanks? Unlikely. Don't worry, ... Read More
