THE MET OPERA LIVE IN HD AT USCB CENTER FOR THE ARTS
By Alan Schuster
Gaetano Donizetti’s “La Fille du Regiment” (The Daughter of the Regiment) was his 65th opera – and one that today ranks among the best comique compositions in the entire repertoire. Donizetti was living in Paris at the time, and so Fille premiered in French at the Opera-Comique in 1840. It quickly became popular and went on to be performed more than 1,000 times for French audiences by 1908.
In addition to a score with high-spirited military tunes, humorous scenes and delightful ensembles, critics rave about the performances of the two young lovers — the “daughter,” Marie, and Tonio, a young farmer turned soldier. The occasion was the first Met staging on Feb. 7 with the same cast that will appear in the Live HD broadcast at the Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 2.
“Javier Camarena’s breezy performance of the aria ‘Ah! Mes amis,’ complete with nine effortless high C’s, was so thrilling that the audience broke into an ecstatic ovation,” wrote Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times. “After almost two minutes of applause, he was encouraged to sing it again — 18 high C’s for the price of nine.”
Also worth noting is the non-singing role of Dutchess Krackenthorp, often played by non-operatic celebrities such as actresses Bea Arthur, Hermione Gingold and, believe it or not, in 2016 at Washington’s National Opera, by a lifelong opera fan — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This performance will feature the distinctively husky voice of former Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner.
Tickets are now available at the USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. All seats are general admission. Adults $20; OLLI members $18; Students $10. Order on-line at www.centerforthearts.com or by calling 843-521-4145.
