La Fille du Regiment

(The Daughter of the Regiment)


By: Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto by: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François-Alfred Bayard


Cast:



Story:



ACT I

It is 1805 and Napoleon's forces are in the Tyrol. The war has forced the Marquise of Berkenfield, making her way home, to stop outside a village. Villagers watching the progress of the French sergeant Sulpice appears, terrorizing the village, followed by the vivandiere Marie. Sulpice quizzes her about reports that she has been seen with a young man: Marie replies that this is true and that the man concerned saved her life. The soldiers have found a Tyrolean snooping around the camp, and when they bring him forward, Marie identifies him as her rescuer, Tonio. Eventually he is welcomed by the soldiers. Coming out of hiding, the Marquise approaches Sulpice to ask him to ensure her safety on her journey home. In the course of their conversation, Sulpice realizes the Marquise's name is the same as the regiment's old Captain Robert. The Marquise insists that the Captain had been connected with her sister. Sulpice realizes their daughter is Marie and he takes the opportunity to introduce her to her "aunt". Tonio joins the regiment to be close to Marie, but the Marquise decides to take the girl away.

ACT II

The Marquise has arranged to marry Marie to the Duke of Krackenthorp. She calls Sulpice to her home and asks him to encourageMarie who, although she has agreed to the wedding, is less than enthusiastic. The Marquise has been concerned to refine the girl's regimental manners, but when Marie sees Sulpice again, it is clear that she still hankers after her former way of life. To Marie's delight, all her old comrades return and Tonio is now an officer. He approaches the Marquise to tell her how he loves Marie, but she informs him of her plans and dismisses him. Left alone with Sulpice, the Marquise at last confesses that Marie is in fact her daughter: she feels tha marriage she has arranged will resolve her guilt. The marriage contract is to be digned that day and the Duke's mother, the Duchess of Krackenthorp arrives with other quests for the ceremony. Marie has now learned that the Marquise is her mother and resigns herself to sign the marriage contract. Suddenly Tonio leads in the regiment to stop the proceedings and tells everyone about Marie's old career as a vivandiere: at first the guests are horrifies, but Marie charms them with her honesty and the Marquise is moved to letting her marry Tonio.