“La Fille du régiment“ returns to La Scala

traveling

Since 1838, Donizetti had been gravitating toward Paris in search of lasting fame. And judging by Berlioz's recriminations in "Le Journal des débats," his goal had been achieved. The commissioning of a new opera by the famous Opéra-Comique is a testament to the fame of the Bergamasco composer, who for the occasion attempted one of the most beloved forms of French musical theater, combining spoken parts and music interwoven with a comic quality that alternates with moments of pathos and sentiment. Although the debut of "La Fille du régiment" was rather lukewarm (probably due to preconceptions about a "foreign" author), the opera remained on the program for 150 performances and remains among the most frequently performed works by a non-French composer in French theaters. It's no surprise, then, that one of the most successful recent productions is by a French director with a strong flair for comedy, Laurent Pelly. Created in 2007 for Covent Garden in London, the show (set during the First World War) has since toured the world and now arrives at La Scala as the penultimate production of the season—from Friday, October 17th to Friday, November 7th—in the reconstruction of the Liceu in Barcelona. On the podium is accredited bel canto singer Evelino Pidò, who can count on celebrated voices such as Juan Diego Florez (pictured, ready to repeat the personal success of his Tonio, who, in the final 2007 revival of the title role at the Piermarini Theatre, was "forced" to repeat the arduous aria "Ah, mes amis"), Julie Fuchs (returning as Marie after her spring La Scala debut in Gassmann's "L'Opera seria"), Pietro Spagnoli (Sulpice), and Géraldine Chauvet (Marchesa di Berkenfield). And finally, Barbara Frittoli, a special guest as the Duchess of Crakentorp.

details