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5 Anna Christy (Marie) and Alek Shrader (Tonio) in 'The Daughter of the Regiment.' Photo (c) Ken Howard for The Santa Fe Opera, 2015

Daughter of the Regiment 2015

July 3 - August 29, 2015

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

Synopsis

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…

Artists

Anna Christy headshot

Anna Christy

Soprano

Marie

Alek Shrader headshot

Alek Shrader

Tenor

Tonio

Kevin Burdette headshot

Kevin Burdette

Bass

Sulpice Pingot

Phyllis Pancella headshot

Phyllis Pancella

Mezzo-soprano

Marquise of Berkenfeld

Judith Christin headshot

Judith Christin

Mezzo-soprano

Duchess of Krakenthorp

Calvin Griffin headshot

Calvin Griffin

Bass-baritone

Hortensius

Jack Swanson headshot

Jack Swanson

Tenor

A Peasant

Adrian N. Smith headshot

Adrian N. Smith

Bass-baritone

A Corporal

Jorrell Williams headshot

Jorell Williams

Baritone

A notary

Speranza Scappucci headshot

Speranza Scappucci

Conductor

Ned Canty headshot

Ned Canty

Director

Allen-Moyer

Allen Moyer

Scenic Designer

& Costume Designer

Rick Fisher headshot

Rick Fisher

Lighting Designer

Sean-Curran

Seán Curran

Choreographer

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master