Educational Media Reviews Online

Donizetti’s riotously funny comic opera is performed here with exuberant athletic verve against a backdrop of imaginative, effective staging. Starring soprano Natalie Dessay as Marie and tenor Juan Diego Florez as Tonio, the entire cast is outstanding. The time frame has been moved to World War I complete with period uniforms and a tank! The fun begins up front as we see the German troops wearing pots and pans as helmets as they brandish farm tools and brooms while preparing for the advancing French. The scene changes and Dessay shows her stuff, delivering her demanding lines effortlessly while doing the regiment’s laundry and frolicking about the stage. When Florez makes his appearance he proves to be her equal in every way. His suave, expressive voice is full of energy and sweetness. This production by the French director Laurent Pelly has been a hit in London, Vienna and New York. On the opening night at the Met the long-time rule against solo encores was broken when Florez, performing with ease, hit high C 9 times in one aria, bringing down the house and forcing an encore. The production was featured in the Met broadcast series to theatres worldwide in the spring of 2008 so it will be familiar to many opera lovers. It’s a shame that, while the cover states the opera is in French with English subtitles, there are no subtitles. It would have been even more delicious with them. However, given the overall quality of this release I still rate it highly recommended.