The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Emmy winner Sandra Oh will make her Met debut playing the Duchess of Krakenthorp in Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment. This is the latest in a string of stage roles for the Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve star, who recently appeared as Olivia in Shakespeare in the Park's Twelfth Night, and last year in The Welkin Off-Broadway.
La Fille du Régiment is an opéra comique, a genre of French opera popular in the 19th century which included spoken dialogue. The Duchess of Krakenthorp is a speaking role which is often played by a guest star from outside the world of opera. Previous performers in the role at the Met have included Kathleen Turner, Marian Seldes, and Bea Arthur.
The opera follows Marie, a foundling child who was raised by a regiment of soldiers. When her aunt, the Marquise of Berkenfeld, discovers Marie, she is appalled to see the military manners with which her niece has been brought up. The Marquise whisks Marie away to teach her how to be a lady, preparing her for an arranged marriage with the son of the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Comedy ensues as Marie does not take to upper-class life, while her chosen family in the regiment attempt to rescue her.
Oh joins a cast which includes soprano Erin Morley as Marie, mezzo-soprano Alice Coote as the Marquise, tenor Lawrence Brownlee as the Tyrolean soldier Tonio, and bass-baritone Peter Kálmán as Marie's adoptive father Sergeant Sulpice. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the production by French director Laurent Pelly.
La Fille du Régiment begins performances at the Met October 17, running through November 12. For more information, visit MetOpera.org. See photos from a previous Met production of La Fille du Régiment below.
