Love conquers all in this heartwarming operatic comedy about a tomboy raised by an unconventional military ‘family’.
Laurent Pelly’s larger-than-life production returns, with Yves Abel conducting Donizetti’s comic opera. Juan Diego Flórez returns to the role of Tonio alongside Jonah Hoskins, starring alongside Sara Blanch in her Royal Opera debut as the plucky heroine, Marie.
Vienna State Opera and Metropolitan Opera, New York
Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust
Royal Ballet and Opera Friends
Discovered as a baby on the battlefield, tomboy Marie has been raised by the soldiers of the 21st regiment. Her ‘father’, Sergeant Sulpice, only wants her to marry within their ranks. Not a problem, says Tyrolean peasant Tonio, promptly joining the troops to be with Marie. But when the Marquise de Berkenfield crosses paths with the regiment, a long-buried secret about Marie’s past is revealed, placing her romantic plans in jeopardy. Can love conquer all?
Laurent Pelly’s larger-than-life production evokes military life in the Tyrolean alps with humour, style and a very big tank. Yves Abel conducts a wonderful cast, featuring Juan Diego Flórez and Jonah Hoskins, who share the role of Tonio, and Spanish soprano Sara Blanch, who makes her Royal Opera debut as the plucky heroine, Marie.
Born in Bergamo in 1797, Gaetano Donizetti composed over 70 operas. Dividing his time between Italy and France, he was at his most productive during the early 19th century. He is well known as one of the leading exponents of bel canto, the genre of ‘beautiful singing’ that showcased the vocal prowess of the leading singers of the day, as heard in his gothic melodrama, Lucia di Lammermoor. He also composed a wealth of comic operas still popular today, including L’elisir d’amore, Don Pasquale and La fille du régiment.
The early performances of La fille du régiment in 1840, Paris, had a mixed reception, largely owing to a rise in anti-Italian sentiment in the French capital, spearheaded by the composer Hector Berlioz. Despite this, the opera became a huge success, cementing Donizetti’s Parisian reputation. La fille du régiment has enjoyed a comeback in recent decades, with modern-day audiences adoring its plucky heroine and catchy tunes.
In previous revivals of this production, the speaking role of Marie’s prospective mother-in-law, the formidable Duchesse de Crakentorp, has been performed by celebrities, from Dawn French to Ann Widdecombe and Miranda Richardson, as well as legendary opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa.
Catchy, military-style tunes are interspersed with lively French dialogue, all of which is translated live in the theatre on our surtitle screens. Highlights include Marie’s stirring regimental song 'Chacun le sait' (Everyone knows) and Tonio’s all-time tenor showstopper, 'Ah! Mes amis,’ (‘Ah, my friends’), featuring 12 high Cs in a dazzling display of stamina and skill.
There is lift access and step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. There are 10 steps or fewer to some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier. All seats in the Orchestra stalls are accessed by 9 steps or more. A handheld bell is rung by Front of House staff to signal guests to take their seats before a performance. The bell is loud and can be startling. The bell is rung approximately ten minutes before the show starts and at each interval.
We have an assistive listening system available to use.
Accessible performances:
There will be an Audio Described performance with a Touch Tour on 14 July 2026. Touch Tours must be booked by contacting boxoffice@roh.org.uk for tickets.
There will be a British Sign Language interpreted and Captioned performance on 22 July 2026.
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