Daughter of the Regiment 2015

Synopsis
Artists

When is it too late for happiness? Never.

There is surely no more engaging comic heroine in all of opera than Marie, Gaetano Donizetti’s plucky Daughter of the Regiment. Seemingly abandoned on a battlefield as an infant, Marie was found by a military regiment and taken under their collective wing. Now the formerly adorable child has blossomed as a winsome, vivacious young woman — still the regiment’s mascot, but also the object of the shepherd Tonio’s affections. And Tonio has matrimony in mind.

Music By

Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto By

Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François-Alfred Bayard

Act I

On their way to Austria, the Marquise of Berkenfeld and her butler, Hortensius, have stopped in a small Tyrolean village because the French army blocks their way. They ask Sulpice, sergeant of the 21st regiment, for permission to continue onward. Sulpice is joined by Marie, the “daughter” of the regiment, who was adopted as an orphaned child found on a battlefield. When Sulpice questions her about a young man she has been seen with, Marie explains that he is a local Tyrolean who saved her life. Soldiers of the 21st arrive with a prisoner: the same Tyrolean, Tonio, who has been looking for Marie. Tonio is taken away by the soldiers, but he escapes and returns to declare his love to Marie. Sulpice surprises them, and Marie admits that she can only marry a soldier from the 21st regiment.

The Marquise of Berkenfeld asks Sulpice for an escort to her castle. When he hears the name Berkenfeld, Sulpice remembers a letter he discovered near Marie when she was found, and the Marquise claims that Marie is the long-lost daughter of her sister. The Marquise is determined to give her niece a proper education. Tonio has enlisted in the army so that he can marry Marie, but she has to leave both her regiment and the man she loves.

Act II

Several months later, the Marquise has arranged a marriage between Marie and Scipion, nephew of the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Sulpice has joined the Marquise at the castle to recover from an injury. The Marquise gives Marie a singing lesson, but Marie slips in phrases of the regimental song, encouraged by Sulpice, and the Marquise loses her temper. Left alone, Marie hears soldiers marching in the distance and is delighted when the whole regiment files into the hall. Tonio asks for Marie’s hand, but the Marquise declares her niece engaged to another man. Alone with Sulpice, the Marquise confesses the truth about her situation.

The wedding party arrives, headed by the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Marie refuses to join, leaving the Marquise with an agonizing choice to make…

Daughter of the Regiment 2015

Synopsis

Act I

Act II

Artists

Anna Christy

Anna Christy

Alek Shrader

Alek Shrader

Kevin Burdette

Kevin Burdette

Phyllis Pancella

Phyllis Pancella

Judith Christin

Judith Christin

Calvin Griffin

Calvin Griffin

Jack Swanson

Jack Swanson

Adrian N. Smith

Adrian N. Smith

Jorell Williams

Jorell Williams

Speranza Scappucci

Speranza Scappucci

Ned Canty

Ned Canty

Allen Moyer

Allen Moyer

Rick Fisher

Rick Fisher

Seán Curran

Seán Curran

Susanne Sheston

Susanne Sheston

Daughter of the Regiment 2015