Customer Reviews

Donizetti - La Fille du Regiment / Devia, Kelly, Podles, Pratico, Borioli, Rivenq, Renzetti, La Scala

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Once available only on recordings in Italian (with an exception on the London label), Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment" now has several sound recordings in the original French. An old video with Beverly Sills is in English and not very well done, and one from Australia boasts Joan Sutherland (who in no way looks the part but has few vocal problems with it). Now we have a really excellent DVD version put out by TDK (DVUS LFDR) from La Scala under the musical direction of Donato Renzetti and stage direction of Filippo Crivelli.

While tenor Paul Austin Kelly does not hit those 8 high Cs with quite the brilliance that the young Pavarotti was once able to toss off, he is comfortable in the role both musically and dramatically. Bruno Pratico makes a likable Sulpice (very important in this opera), while Ewa Podles hams it up but sings marvelously as the comical Marquise. Soprano Mariella Devia might be the most petite Marie ever, but her clarion notes when she imitates the regiment's trumpets are stunning.

The program notes mention how Zeffirelli designed the costumes and scenery to tone down the jingoism and pro-military sentiment of the original; but during the introductory titles, drawings of battlefield slaughter are shown on the screen and one wonders if those responsible for the video consulted with those responsible for the stage production.

At least there is not too much clowning in the comic scenes and the serious sequences are taken--well, seriously and without camping. I honestly doubt if a better version will appear on video and this is a very good choice for your next opera-video purchase.

The picture is in "full screen" ratio (4:3), and if you wish to use subtitles, they are available in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Donizetti was a composer of over 70 operas. Some are outstanding; others less than so. Three of his comic operas, Don Paquale, L'Elsir D'Amore and La fille du Regiment are in the former category. I first saw this work when the Met toured, featuring Joan Sutherland and the young Pavarotti. It was a fantastic performance, and remains the benchmark for me. So how to evaluate this disc?

First, the music: it is a hugely melodic work, with one great melody following another. The plot is somewhat trivial by today's standards, but it still holds together well. The video is full screen and well defined, and the sound allows for DTS as a menu choice. In that mode, the sound is stunning.

The singers are all quite good. No, Paul Austin Kelly is not Pavarotti, but he is an attractive, believeable Tonio, and he can act. He hits all the notes , even the high ones woth clarity and presicion. Bruno Pratico is a competant Sulpice and Ewa Podles is a funny yet well sung Marquise. It is Mariella Devia who steals the show, though. She has a big lyrical soprano voice for such a petite woman, with supple runs and a brilliant top.

I have said repeatedly that the DVD medium is the next best thing to a live perdormance, and this disc is further proof of that. It is also an excellent "first opera" for anyone (including the kids) who is curious about why so many of us love the stuff.

This is a lovely production with a beautiful fairy-book setting by Zefferelli that enhances the storybook nature of the opera. It is very playful and funny as well. Devia steals the show by her glorious singing but she has chosen not to ham it up in the first act. This pays off nicely in the second act when her considerable comedic talents finally come into play. This is a strategy which complements the action very well. In my opinion, the performance is considerably more nuanced than Beverly Sills embarassing effort to emulate Carol Burnett in the Wolf Trap version. The supporting cast (especially Ewa Podles) contributes strongly to the success of this delightful work.

It must have been quite a challenge to mount this French Fille production in the heart of Italy, La Scala. It's like selling Italian olive oil to Greeks and probably the reason the audience didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I did.

I found both the garish Zeffirelli production and the singing wonderful with one exception; Mariella Devia whom I found phenomenal. I lost count of the number of high notes she hits in this performance and the last one is longer and more radiant than the previous ones. Although one can easily get distracted by these perfect top notes, the middle range where most singing lies is never less impressive. Even in louder passages, her intoxicating voice never spreads and she shades it beautifully. Moreover her petite figure and cute stage presence make her a totally convinving Marie even if she was 45 at the time of this production.

Podles is great, showing off her impressive vocal range and strong instrument. I also liked her on stage. The lesson scene with Devia is sparkling. Pratico could perhaps have done more with the character but he is absolutely fine and his baritone is most pleasant. Kelly has a beautiful lyric voice and if the top is not Pavarotti-like secure, it certainly has a ring.

The dvd is nicely tracked and well prepared. For some reason I didn't expect much from this performance but it turned out to be one of the most exciting things I've seen. Worth e v e r y penny!

I do not agree with the reviewer who claims that this production has no sense of fun. There was plenty of colorful fun (especially in the second act), besides the great singing. I thought the Zeffirelli designs were clever and delightful and lots of fun in themselves. Very well done.

Well, nowadays the classical world loves 'star' singers, and thankfully we have a bunch of them to hold up the operatic banner, and even to grace the '100 most influential people' chosen by Time.

Stars aside, it is equally important for any artform to be able to evolve in a way so as to sustain if not surpass its artistic standard.

Turning 59 last month, Italian coloratura soprano Mirella Devia for the past quarter of a century has been demonstrating in a big way to listeners and viewers what bel canto singing should be, and could be, like.

I got this DVD AFTER viewing the 2006 production of this same opera, headed there by star bel canto tenor Juan Diego Florez and others.

That production certainly is most impressive, with Florez as 'Tonio' hitting 18 High Cs in total in that live performance.

Here, in this 1996 production, it is the soprano 'Marie' sung by Mariella Devia that is phenomenal.

In the 2006 DVD, Florez mentioned during an interview excerpt that 'La Fille du Regiment' is actually an opera in which the soprano arias shine: the tunes are so beautiful that causes goose bumps in the listener.

Well, I must admit that Ms. Devia's fantastic singing did not merely cause me goose bumps - it actually made me cry!

Having heard Sutherland's 1968 recording with Pav, I am not overly demanding on the two protagonists in any subsequent version. After all, who can expect to surpass Pav and La Stupenda, the two icons of operatic excellence of the late-20th century?

That said, just as Florez surprised me in his 2006 La Fille du Regiment, to an perhaps even greater extent, Mariella Devia made me jump up from my seat in this 1996 version.

Even if her opening duet 'Au bruit de la guerre' isn't really 'exceptional' COMPARED to Dame Joan's and he 'Lalala...Chacun ie sait' is good enough, in the latter scenes of Act 1, starting from the duet with Tonia 'Depuis l'instant ou' Ms. Devia starts to surprise me aria after aria right till the last note of the final scene of Art 2.

Her 'Il faut partir' in the last scene in Act 1 is not just beautiful, but exceptionally moving. Compare the way Mariella renders this aria with Sutherland, the difference lies not in technical prowess but emotional involvement. Not surprising, the La Scala audience gave a rousing ovation to such singing.

Then again, in Act 2, in 'C'en est donc fait', another most touching rendition.

Ms. Devia possesses an instrument that is not only full, pure, and flexible, but also highly affecting. Her timbre is more girlish than Sutherland's in her 1968 recording. Vocally I would rank her Marie ahead of Sutherland's.

So much for 'Marie'. The opera was well directed. The Act 2 contains so many moments of fun that really allows any audience to love watching.

The 'Tonio', though not vocally exceptional, is adequate. No 'boos' from the abrasive La Scala audience. No 'off-key' singing, either.

Sulpice and the Marquis are capably handled. Podles particularly comic and effective as Marie's Mom.

If not for the artificial backdrop, the staging would be perfect.

I could not recommend this DVD more.

This was a very good traditional production of La Fille du Regiment with great music, glorious singing, colorful scenery and costumes but rather dull acting. Mariella Devia's voice rates the highest marks; she was a fantastic Marie. Paul Austin Kelly was a great Tonio, too.

Perhaps it was the direction...this opera just had no zing. Too much stand and sing, I think. I didn't burst out laughing once nor shed a single tear. Judging by the applause of the audience, if it was actually live because the DVD never shows the crowd, they were not very moved either. My applause meter registered just politeness after most of the arias. Marie's goodbye to the regiment got a worthy response, but that's about it. I was actually embarassed for Paul Kelly when the applause meter dipped for his performances. He sang beautifully! It seemed unjustified.

Anyhow, what this lacked was the kind of rapport that Joan Sutherland created with the men of the regiment, where you actually believed that she knew them all and loved them and hated to leave them. The regiment in this production was more like a chorus standing in the background.

But, I've been spoiled by the production with Patrizia Ciofi and Juan Diego Florez and ruined forever by Natalie Dessay's performance as Marie. Donizetti himself would form a fan club for her!!! So, maybe it's unfair to judge this one by those more recent renditions.

As a Fillenatic I can recommend this highly. Very funny production with the marvelous Ewa Podles being a wonderful comedienne and treats us to some of her extreme notes from bass to coloratura!!! Great imagination went into the final scene with all sorts of strange guests I had never seen in other productions. Good idea I think as the last act is pretty short and this gives it a bit more body. Kelly is a bit light vocally, but is OK, and looks very good. Devia is always very good vocally. Maybe a bit stiff early on......but she warms up pretty well for the last act.

I think that this production of La Fille du Regiment is very pleasing to both sight and sound. The props are very bright and vivid, the costumes are eye-catching, and the vocals are stunning. I like this production because it features fabulous singers other than Sutherland, Callas, Pavarotti, and so on....I think they are tremendous vocalists, but it's nice to see such great operas performed by various, other "qualified" singers. I would liked to have seen this opera performed with Kathleen Battle (since this is the opera she was working on at the time of her dismissal). This is the only DVD of this opera that I own and since it could not have been Miss Battle, I am glad I have this one. Devia and Podles are greatly gifted singers who have a lot to offer and I am sure you will not be let down.

I'm a lover of this particular opera - but I recommend anyone who would like a copy of "Daughter of the Regiment" to seek out older versions done by the New York City Opera. Or that marvelous version by Beverly Sills at Wolf Trap. La Scala has practically turned this opera into Opera Seria! There's absolutely no sense of fun at all in it.