La Fille du Regiment - ROH

I've just come out of the Friends Rehearsal of this and very enjoyable it was. The original production had Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez as Marie and Tonio so this had a lot to live up to. Sabine Devielhe has a very light voice, generally an asset for Marie but I did find her a bit tonally monotonous although her pitching was exemplary and she has the top end for the part (the Queen of the Night is in her repertory.) The stand out was Javier Camarena who was sensational as Tonio and actually out-Florezs Florez in the part, which is no mean achievement.  ** Note to Oliver Mears **  re-book this guy immediately for multiple appearances in multiple operas, particularly Bel Canto roles. You could tell when he sang his first phrase around an hour before his famous high 'C's aria that it was a very special voice - he really does have all the charisma and effortless control of a young Pavarotti.

The production wears well. Miranda Richardson plays the Duchess of Crakentorp. They hadn't aggrandised the part as much as they did for Dawn French, Kiri Te Kanawa or the memorably awful Ann Widdecombe.

Excellent, lively conducting from Evelino Pido.