Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007)

As another reviewer has noted, this Covent Garden production was recently (spring 2008) performed at the Met in New York. I had the pleasure of seeing that production via the Met's closed circuit HD broadcasts.

While I am on that subject, I congratulate and thank the Met for those broadcasts. While not quite the same as being in Lincoln Center for the live performance, it is the next best thing. Those of you who are opera lovers and have not yet discovered or attended those broadcasts should buy your tickets for the 2008-09 season.

Natalie Dessay is a petit French soprano whose acting ability, especially in this comic opera, and whose energy level, matches her excellent musicianship and beautiful voice. Juan Diego Florez, a Peruvian tenor with a light lyric yet powerful voice, matches her perfectly. Alessandro Corbelli is superb as the Sergeant protector. A special treat is the speaking role of Felicity Palmer.

Unfortunately I have not yet seen the Teatro Carlo Felice production reviewer Toni Bernhard referred to in an excellent write-up. But I have seen Natalie Dessay live in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Met and can tell you that she is an outstanding actress and made the famous "mad scene" totally convincing.

Florez is well launched on a successful career in comic opera that I believe will see him grow into true stardom in the years to come.

All in all a very worthy opera DVD.

For singers, especially, this is a spectacular and exciting event. Seen on the Giant Cinemark screen it was excellent, but scrutiny at one's leisure of the quality and talent of these two artists was breathtaking. Actually, it wasn't just these two artists. The Orchestra was spectacular with not a weak spot in the entire opera, crisp, clean execution, and magnificent musicality. The support singers were also better than you can imagine. I was unfamiliar with this opera until I saw this production, and can't for the life of me imagine anything more thrilling! Staging and comedy were not forced, but naturally good humored and beautifully timed. I bought this and have watched it several times. It is one of the most inspiring performances I've ever scene. You'll LOVE it!

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS PRODUCTION IN THE THEATRE SPONSORED BY THE MET AND FOUND IT DELIGHTFUL. THIS VERSION WAS A MUST FOR OUR LIBRARY. DESSAY AND THE ENTIRE CAST HAVE PUT A NEW TWIST ON THIS OLDER PLOT TO THE ABSOLUTE DELIGHT OF EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN IT. EVEN THE OPERA NEWS MAGAZINE HAS GIVEN IT A TOTAL "THUMBS UP."

This is a great production with beautiful singing and great humor. The more recent Met's version has the advantage of "tweaking" and refining a year later, to raise the standard to amazingly ingenious ie., choreographing the laundry in the scenery in the background, and refining and embellishing the acting/singing of the characters. Natalie Dessay is a delight on all levels. She integrates the music, singing, and characterization with the comic genious of a Lucille Ball or Charlie Chaplin.

Dessay and Florez are in top form in this performance as they were at the Met broadcast. Both have superb voices and acting skills