La fille du regiment facts for kids

Gaetano Donizetti

The Daughter of the Regiment (which means The Girl of the Regiment in French) is a funny opera. It has two parts, called acts. The story, called a libretto, was written in French by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard. The music was made by Gaetano Donizetti.

This opera is very famous for a song called "Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête!" (Oh! My friends, what a holiday!). It's sung by a tenor and has nine super high notes, called high Cs! It was first shown on February 11, 1840, in Paris. Later, it was also performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera in New York. A famous singer named Jenny Lind loved to play the part of Marie.

Main Characters

• Marie: A young woman who sells things to soldiers. She is a soprano singer.
• Tonio: A young man from Tyrol. He is a tenor singer.
• Sergeant Sulpice: A sergeant in the French army. He is a bass singer.
• Marquise of Birkenfeld: A noblewoman. She is a contralto singer.
• Hortensius: The Marquise's butler. He is a bass singer.
• Duchess of Krakenthorp: A noblewoman. This is a speaking role.
• Other characters include a Corporal, a Peasant, a Notary, French soldiers, Tyroleans, and servants.

The Story

Act 1: The Regiment's Daughter

The Marquise of Berkenfeld and her butler, Hortensius, are traveling to Austria. They stop because there's a small fight happening. The Marquise finds out that the French soldiers have left. She complains about how rude the French people are.

Sergeant Sulpice of the 21st regiment promises that his soldiers will make things peaceful again. Marie, the "daughter" of the regiment, joins him. She is an orphan who was adopted and raised by the soldiers. Sulpice asks her about a young man she's been seen with. Marie explains that he is Tonio, a Tyrolean man who once saved her life.

More soldiers arrive with a prisoner: it's Tonio! He was looking for Marie. Marie quickly steps in to save him. Tonio then makes a toast to his new friends, and Marie sings the regiment's special song. The soldiers tell Tonio to follow them. But he escapes and comes back to tell Marie he loves her. Sulpice surprises them. Marie has to tell Tonio that she can only marry a soldier from the 21st regiment.

The Marquise asks Sulpice for help getting to her castle. When Sulpice hears the name Berkenfeld, he remembers a letter he found near young Marie on the battlefield. The Marquise soon admits that she knew Marie's father. She says Marie is her sister's daughter, who was lost a long time ago. The Marquise is shocked by Marie's rough manners. She decides to take her niece to her castle to give her a proper education.

Tonio has joined the army so he can marry Marie. But Marie has to leave her regiment and the man she loves.

Act 2: A New Life, Old Friends

The Marquise has arranged for Marie to marry the Duke of Krakenthorp. At the Marquise's castle, Sulpice is getting better from an injury. He is supposed to help the Marquise with her plans. The Marquise gives Marie a singing lesson. Marie secretly adds parts of the regimental song, with Sulpice encouraging her. The Marquise gets very angry.

Marie is left alone. She thinks that money and high status don't really matter. She then hears soldiers marching in the distance. She is so happy when the whole regiment marches into the room! She leads them in singing a song for France. Marie is reunited with Tonio.

Tonio asks the Marquise if he can marry Marie. The Marquise is not moved by Tonio saying that Marie is his whole life. She says her niece is already promised to another man. She sends Tonio away. The Marquise and Sulpice are left alone. She then tells him the truth: Marie is her own daughter. She gave Marie up a long time ago because she was afraid of what people would say.

Hortensius announces that the wedding guests have arrived. The groom's mother, the Duchess of Krakenthorp, leads them. Marie refuses to leave her room. Sulpice tells her that the Marquise is her mother. The surprised girl says she cannot go against her mother's wishes. She agrees to marry a man she does not love.

Marie is about to sign the marriage contract. But then the soldiers of the 21st regiment, led by Tonio, rush in to rescue their "daughter." The guests are shocked to learn that Marie used to be a canteen girl. But they change their minds when Marie tells them that she can never repay how much she owes the soldiers. The Marquise is so touched by her daughter's kind heart that she gives her permission to marry Tonio. Everyone joins in a final song for France.

Images for kids

• 

  Mécène Marié de l'Isle sang Tonio.

• 

  Marie–Julie Halligner sang The Marquise of Berkenfield.

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  1910 poster for the opera by Emile Finot

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  Final curtain call of the Metropolitan Opera's performance of 24 December 2011 with (l to r) Lawrence Brownlee (Tonio), Nino Machaidze (Marie), and Ann Murray (Marquise)

See also

In Spanish: La hija del regimiento para niños