Watching the Live in HD Metropolitan Opera cinema broadcasts has always been a fascinating and mostly worthwhile experience for me. Some productions are better than others, most ranging from decent to great, with a fair share of superb productions but also some disappointments. There has always been the thrill of feeling like you are there at the Met yourself, that's how authentic the impact is, except you are actually seeing the production for a much cheaper price and in a more accessible location.
Season 13 (2018-2019) has so far been a very solid season, with the only disappointments being 'Marnie' (part of it was to do with the opera itself) and 'Samson et Delilah'. Apart from a few staging misjudgements 'La Traviata' was good, 'Aida' was very good and 'La Fanciulla Del West' was great. So far there have been two triumphs. One was 'Adriana Lecouvreur'. The other is this, 'La Fille Du Regiment'. Along with 'Lucia Di Lammermoor', 'L'Elisir D'Amore' and 'Don Pasquale', 'La Fille Du Regiment' is among Donizetti's best operas to me, very funny, very charming and with typically great music, the most famous part being the tenor aria "Ah Mes Amis". This production is how to do Donizetti well and make him sparkle.
It is a revival of Laurent Pelly's production, seen previously by me via the 2007 Covent Garden and 2008 Met performances both starring Natalie Dessay as Marie and Juan Diego Florez as Tonio. So big shoes to fill, and big shoes filled splendidly. The HD presentation is as well done as ever, engagingly presented, crisp and clear and expansive, the music and singing sounding very vivid.
Pelly does a remarkable job being respectful in spirit to the opera's story, even with things done differently (spoken dialogue for instance) and additional touches, while also making it fresh and accessible. The updated world war one setting didn't look too drab or cartoonish, while the stage direction always makes the story's action engaging and entertaining, not once was my attention lost. Nothing feels irrelevant or overkill and it's done tastefully, with some hilariously sparkling comedy played with sheer enthusiasm without overplaying. An example of a non-traditional, concept production done well and properly.
Musically, this 'La Fille Du Regiment' is superb. The orchestral playing is buoyant, sumptuous and well blended. The chorus also blend well and the production provides ample opportunity in showing off more individuality in their characterisation, the chorus' acting when they're not given static stage direction has come on such a lot over-time. This is all made possible by Enrique Mazzola's conducting, full of energy yet also not without nuance, allowing the performance to fly by with no problem.
Furthermore, the cast are on top form. Do prefer Alessandro Corbelli in the role of Sulpice, but Maurizio Muraro still provides a good deal of character. Stephanie Blythe is a thrillingly voiced Marquise and Kathleen Turner (yes you saw right) has, and is, immense fun. It's the leads that shine the most though, as they said. Javier Camarena in particular is sensational and brings more than just star power to Tonio, he looks as though he is enjoying every minute and his singing throughout sounds so effortless. Beautiful tone, smooth phrasing and not one, but nine, thrilling top Cs in "Ah Mes Amis". Pretty Yende's voice is one of gleaming beauty and she shows no signs of struggling in the florid parts (allowing them to sparkle and thrill actually), interpretation-wise she is very fetching and sassy and allows Marie to go on a character growth while being hilarious in the physical comedy without overdoing it. Their bonding is just so adorable.
Overall, fantastic production and one of the season's triumphs. 10/10