La Fille du régiment
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT

by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)

Synopsis

Act one

It is 1805 and the forces of Napoleon are in the Tyrol. The war has forced the Marchioness of Birkenfeld, making her way home, to stop outside a village at the foot of the mountains. Villagers watching the progress of the French in the distance announce that they have been driven back, but a French sergeant, Sulpice, appears, to the terror of the marchionesss, who runs to hide in a nearby cottage. Sulpice is followed by a vivandière, Marie the regiment's adopted daughter. Sulpice quizzes her about reports that she has been seeing a young man: Marie replies that this is true and that the man concerned saved her life. The soldiers have found a Tyrolean snooping round the camp, and when they bring him forward Marie identifies him as her rescuer, Tonio. He is welcomed by the soldiers, not least for his support for France. He manages to have some time alone with Marie and the couple confess that they love each other.

The marchioness, coming out of hiding, approaches Sulpice to ask him to ensure her safety on her journey home. In the course of their conversation Sulpice makes the connection between the marchioness' name and the regiment's Captain Robert of years before. The marchioness insists that the Captain had been connected with her sister. Their daughter, Sulpice now realises, is Marie, and the sergeant takes the opportunity to introduce the girl to her 'aunt'. Tonio has joined up to be near Marie and persuades the regiment, her adoptive father, to consent to their marrying. The marchioness, however, has decided to take the girl away from the regiment back to her family home.

Act two

The marchioness has arranged a match for Marie with the duke of Crakentorp. She calls Sulpice to her home and asks him to encourage Marie who, although she has agreed to the wedding, is less than enthusiastic about it. The marchioness 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 appear, among them Tonio, now an officer. He approaches the marchioness to tell her how he loves Marie, but she informs him of her plans and dismisses him. Left alone with Sulpice, the marchioness at last confesses that Marie is In fact her daughter: the marriage she has arranged will, she feels, settle the awkward position which mother and daughter find themselves in. The marriage contract is to be signed that day, and the duke's mother, the duchess of Crakentorp arrives with other guests for the ceremony. Marie has now learned that the marchioness is her mother, and, appearing late, she steels herself to sign, but suddenly Tonio leads in the regiment to stop the proceedings. He tells everyone about Marie's old career as a vivandiére: the guests are charmed and the marchioness is moved to letting the girl choose her husband. The choice, of course, is Tonio, and the duchess departs, leaving all the others to celebrate.

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Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848).