This brief, light-hearted opera,
about a tomboy mascot for a group of soldiers who inspires one love-struck
man to enlist just so he can be near her, doesn’t get quite the number of
productions as Donizetti’s other comic masterpieces, L’elisir
d’Amore and Don Pasquale. At one time, the Fille was
more likely to appear as Figlia; in other words, in Italian
translation.
That’s the version recorded by Naxos, featuring the orchestra and chorus
of the Teatro Marrucino di Chieti. The tuneful charm of Donizetti’s score is
irrepressible, but it’s no use pretending that the singing here possesses the
personality and appealing tone that stars such as Dessay and Florez bring to
the leading roles. The Maria, Maria Costanza Nocentini, produces a metallic,
sharp-edged sound that may well carry with distinction in an opera house. As
recorded, the effect is not especially appealing. Much the same goes for
Giorgio Casciarri’s Tonio. He produces the high Cs at the end of his famous
aria; everything before that – and after – feels rough and unshaped. Luciano
Motti growls appropriately as Sulpizio. The comic effect of a role like the
Marchesa de Berkenfeld carries best in the theater – Milijana Nikolic might
be more amusing, seen on stage. The Teatro Marrucino forces are no more than
capable.
Fans of the opera probably already have, at the very least, the
Sutherland/Pavarotti recording. Anyone looking for a more recent version
would be advised to wait until the opera’s latest round of successful
productions appears either on CD or DVD. This particular version is no
bargain, even at Naxos prices.
Chris Mullins
image=http://www.operatoday.com/Figlia.png
image_description=Gaetano Donizetti: La Figlia del Reggimento
product=yes
product_title=Gaetano Donizetti: La Figlia del Reggimento
product_by=Maria, a vivandiËre: Maria Costanza Nocentini, soprano; Tonio, a young Tyrolean: Giorgio Casciarri, tenor; Sulpizio, a sergeant of the 11th regiment: Luciano Miotto, bass; La Marchesa de Berkenfeld: Milijana Nikolic, mezzo-soprano; Ortensio, major-domo of the Marchesa: Eugenio Leggiadri-Gallani, bass; Un Caporale (A Corporal): Arturo Cauli, bass; La Duchessa (The Duchess of Crackentorp): Giulia Martella, mezzo-soprano; Un Paesano (A Peasant): Franco Becconi, tenor; Un Notaio (A Notary): Alessandro Pento, tenor; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Marrucino di Chieti, Marzio Conti (cond.).
product_id=Naxos CD 8.660161-62
price=$11.98
product_url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=3144&name_role1=1&comp_id=900&genre=33&bcorder=195&label_id=19