Daughter of the Regiment 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.
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
Soprano
Marie
Anna Christy
Hometown: Chicago, IL
SFO Debut:
The Younger Jiang Ching, Madame Mao, 2003
Past Seasons:
Morgana, Alcina, 2017
Marie, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Kitty, The Last Savage, 2011
Celia, Lucio Silla, 2005
Alek Shrader
Tenor
Tonio
Alek Shrader
Hometown: Alva, OK
SFO Debut:
Albert Herring, Albert Herring, 2010
Past Seasons:
Candide, Candide, 2018
Oronte, Alcina, 2017
Tonio, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Ernesto, Don Pasquale, 2014
Tamino, The Magic Flute, 2010 (August 27)
Kevin Burdette
Bass
Sulpice Pingot
Kevin Burdette
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
2025 Season:
Benoît/Alcindoro, La bohème
SFO Debut:
Mr. Scattergood, The Last Savage, 2011
Past Seasons:
Dr. Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 2022
Manuel Toulon/Judge, M. Butterfly, 2022
Correspondence, Lord of Cries, 2021
Quince, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021
Voltaire/Pangloss/Cacambo/Martin, Candide, 2018
Major-domo, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018
Frosch, Die Fledermaus, 2017
General Polkan, The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Sulpice Pingot, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Stobrod Thewes/A Blind Man, Cold Mountain, 2015
Otto van der Puff, The Impresario, 2014
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 2014
General Boum, The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
Justice Wills/Colonel Isaacson, Oscar, 2013
Phyllis Pancella
Mezzo-soprano
Marquise of Berkenfeld
Phyllis Pancella
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
SFO Debut:
Marquise of Berkenfeld, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Judith Christin
Mezzo-soprano
Duchess of Krakenthorp
Judith Christin
Hometown: Providence, RI
SFO Debut:
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Past Seasons:
Duchess of Krakenthorp, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Mrs. Herring, Albert Herring, 2010
Mrs. Sedley, Peter Grimes, 2005
Larina, Eugene Onegin, 2002 (June 28 -July 19)
Meg Page, Falstaff, 2001
Margret, Wozzeck, 2001
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 2000 (August 1 – 25)
Princess Bozena Cuddenstein zu Chlumetz, Countess Maritza, 1999
Mother Marie of the Incarnation, Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1999
Stage Door Keeper, A Dream Play, 1998
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1998
Adelaide von Waldner, Arabella, 1997
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1997
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1996
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Princess Bozena Cuddenstein zu Chlumetz, Countess Maritza, 1995
Mrs. Gray, Modern Painters, 1995
Berta, The Barber of Seville, 1994
Fanny, Intermezzo, 1994
Second Lady, The Magic Flute, 1993
Third Player, The Protagonist, 1993
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1990
Mirza, Judith, 1990
Mrs. Chin/Housekeeper, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
La Baronne, Chérubin, 1989
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1988
Rosa Sacchi, The Black Mask, 1988
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1987
Carlotta, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Alkmene, Die Liebe Der Danae, 1985
Junon, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Fidalma, Il matrimonio segreto, 1984
Second Lady, The Magic Flute, 1984
Junon, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Mrs. Grose, The Turn of the Screw, 1983
Alkmene, Die Liebe Der Danae, 1982
Calvin Griffin
Bass-baritone
Hortensius
Calvin Griffin
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Past Seasons:
Hortensius, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Count Ceprano, Rigoletto, 2015
Cold Mountain, 2015
A Notary, Don Pasquale, 2014
Carmen, 2014
Fidelio, 2014
Le Rossignol, 2014
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2014, 2015
Jack Swanson
Tenor
A Peasant
Jack Swanson
Hometown: Stillwater, MN
SFO Debut:
Lindoro, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2014, 2015
Past Seasons:
Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville, 2022
A Peasant, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Stage Hand, The Impresario, 2014
Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 2014
Adrian N. Smith
Bass-baritone
A Corporal
Adrian N. Smith
Hometown: Hickory, NC
Past Seasons:
Larkens, La Fanciulla del West, 2016
Frére Jean, Roméo et Juliette, 2016
Major-Domo, Capriccio, 2016
A Corporal, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2015, 2016
Jorell Williams
Baritone
A notary
Jorell Williams
Hometown: Brentwood, NY
Past Seasons:
Notary, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2015
Speranza Scappucci
Conductor
Speranza Scappucci
Hometown: Rome, Italy
SFO Debut:
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Ned Canty
Director
Ned Canty
Hometown: East Orange, NJ
SFO Debut:
The Last Savage, 2011
Past Seasons:
Die Fledermaus, 2017
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Allen Moyer
Scenic Designer
& Costume Designer
Allen Moyer
Hometown: Schuylkill Haven, PA
2025 Season:
La bohème
SFO Debut:
Così fan tutte, 2003
Past Seasons:
M. Butterfly, 2022
Die Fledermaus, 2017
Vanessa, 2016
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014
The Last Savage, 2011 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Tales of Hoffmann, 2010
Falstaff, 2008
Così fan tutte, 2007
Daphne, 2007
Agrippina, 2004 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Rick Fisher
Lighting Designer
Rick Fisher
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
2025 Season:
Rigoletto
SFO Debut:
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 2021
The Pearl Fishers, 2019
Madame Butterfly, 2018
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Rigoletto, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
The Pearl Fishers, 2012
La bohème, 2011
The Last Savage, 2011
Wozzeck, 2011
Madame Butterfly, 2010
Albert Herring, 2010
Billy Budd, 2008
Radamisto, 2008
La bohème, 2007
Tea: A Mirror of Soul, 2007
Daphne, 2007
Peter Grimes, 2005
La sonnambula, 2004
Intermezzo, 2003
Madame Mao, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
La Traviata, 2002
Wozzeck, 2001
Seán Curran
Choreographer
Seán Curran
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Daphne, 2007
Past Seasons:
M. Butterfly, 2022
Die Fledermaus, 2017
Vanessa, 2016
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014
Oscar, 2013
The Last Savage, 2011
The Tales of Hoffmann, 2010
Susanne Sheston
Chorus Master
Susanne Sheston
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
2025 Season
SFO Debut:
2008 Season
Past Seasons:
2024 Season
2023 Season
2022 Season
2021 Season
2019 Season
2018 Season
2017 Season
2016 Season
2015 Season
2014 Season
2013 Season
2012 Season
2011 Season
2010 Season
2009 Season
Daughter of the Regiment 2015
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