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Conductor – Riccardo Frizza Marie – Patrizia Ciofi Decca DVD 074 3202
This superb translation of La fille to the end of the World War II by Emilio Sagi, filmed at the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, is a huge success. The feted Juan Diego Floréz, in fine voice in this DVD (which is advertised for his 9 high Cs in Ah! mes amis plus encore), yields nothing in charisma, acting and mastery of coloratura singing to Patrizia Ciofi in the title role*. We found this one of the most felicitous DVDs of a favourite comic/romantic opera in our collection, delightfully directed with the lightest of touches for this 2005 revival by a team headed Marie becomes a canteen girl in an American regiment and the music is in the expert hands of Riccardo Frizza. Sound quality and camera work are impeccable, and the notes are far better than many with DVDs. There is a useful documentary film "extra" disc, with substantial stage/orchestra rehearsal clips (not dress rehearsal). We are permitted to see some departures from synchrony treated severely, and Floréz tells us that his lovely romantic second act aria, Pour me rapprocher de Marie, is actually harder than the one with the high Cs made famous by Pavarotti. Also there's a fascinating short explanatory tour of Genoa's state of the art new opera house, rebuilt after it had been bombed twice and destroyed in the War... La fille du Régiment is released by Universal as a two-for-the-price-of-one bargain box, coupled with Don Pasquale, the first Donizetti opera I saw. I remembered enjoying it in my childhood, especially the patter duet between Pasquale & Malatesta, but hadn't come across it again for many decades. Has it gone out of favour? I hope so, because on revisiting on this DVD it really is a We hope to add a fuller review of this twosome, certainly one to acquire. But for La fille du Régiment do consider also the TDK DVD La Scala version with the inimitable Eva Podles as the Marquise. And for another opinion of the Don Pasquale DVD upon its earlier separate release, see ForumOpera, and also resmusica for the live production at Geneva* with "l’exceptionnelle Norina de Patrizia Ciofi". Peter Grahame Woolf Another response: Donizetti – La Fille du Regiment Recorded at the teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, 2005 Marie – Patrizia Ciofi With a surprise twist to the story the regiment are US troops taking part in the Normandy invasion, and the story is firmly played for laughs. The surprisingly deep stage accommodates the world outside the room and allows the lively chorus to play a full part in the story, an innovation of Donizetti’s. It is also very much a live performance in a relatively small auditorium with the audience sitting under lights, making it possible to witness the passion with which Italians view their opera. The atmosphere is somewhat akin to a sporting event: the audience know when the crucial moments are coming up and sit on the edges of their seats anticipating whether the performer will make it or not. Juan Diego Florez, the current king of the upper register, not only produces all those high “C”s triumphantly, but also encores it, receiving the applause with studied ease. Patricia Ciofi is equally impressive, throwing heart and soul into her performance, though her facial expression underlines that it is hard work. The singing lesson scene is particularly well done with the comedy speaking role of the Duchess de Crackentorp minimised as Donizetti intended. Serena Fenwick and a comment received from Dominic McHugh: The La Fille du regiment DVD with Ciofi and Florez is amongst my favourite opera DVDs. Unlike the Laurent Pelly production for the ROH, the director understands that the crux of the matter is when Tonio has agreed to fight for the enemy so that he can be with Marie, only for her to be swept away by her aunt minutes later. He then realises that he has lost not only his love but his personal identity as well, a horrifying fact for him. I find this moment as touching as anything in any opera DVD I've seen, and this directorial focus was largely why I enjoyed this DVD more than the Pelly production.
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nasty, cruel 'ageist' opera, monothematically making fun of the ruination of an old man; from an advanced senior citizen's perspective no longer funny... 
opera, and Ruggero Raimondi trying to retain a little dignity as the eponymous butt of everyone else's fun.