Whenever Gertrude the Griffon delivers the pre-curtain plea for money, an arts organization — Lyric Opera of San Diego in this case — takes a risk of turning off an audience prior to the evening’s frivolity. This happens despite one-note Gertrude’s zinger, “You’re such a lousy ventriloquist,” aimed at director J. Sherwood Montgomery, who had Gertrude’s tail wrapped around his neck. Not known for risk-taking, Lyric Opera also takes a chance in putting patron Teresa Racz Fishlowitz on stage as the Grand Duchess of Krackenthorp in Gaetano Donizetti’s 1840 “Daughter of the Regiment,” playing through Nov. 23 at the Birch North Park Theatre. Aside from a few projection problems (it’s a speaking role and English is the language throughout), Fishlowitz is effectively imperious, especially when rolling her Rs. The libretto is particularly silly, even for a comic opera, but the music and the singing of it, which can be disastrous, is at the least adequate, at the best brilliant, from the excellent chorus to the principal singers. Unfortunately, the chorus ladies’ lovely prayer to the Virgin is undermined by Sherwood’s “comic” directorial distractions, having the Marquise of Berkenfield (Martha Jane Weaver) tremble throughout the entire chorus with a parasol in her hands. The men’s chorus of Grenadiers sings very well while executing the requisite military moves with aplomb and managing to convey fatherly pride when Marie arrives. The titular Daughter of the Regiment, Marie (secure coloratura soprano Emily Douglass in her company debut) is a battlefield foundling, raised by the Regiment. Her most doting papa is Sgt. Sulpice (bass-baritone Walter DuMelle, the most consistent actor on the stage) who is concerned over Marie’s love for the Tyrolean peasant Tonio (tenor John Zuckerman). The Regiment believes Marie should marry a Grenadier, so Tonio enlists. No sooner has the merriment begun than the Marquise announces that Marie is her niece and drags her off to the chateau to make a lady of her. Act II finds Marie in the Marquise’s drawing room, singing opera arias, when she’d much rather perform regimental music with Sulpice, who shows up with the entire troupe not far behind. Marie is to be married to Duchess Krackenthorp’s nephew that very evening. But this is a comic opera, and true love prevails. Opera lovers worry whether the tenor will manage the string of nine high Cs required by the aria (in French, “Ah, Mes Amis”) in which he declares his love for Marie. Much to the audience’s relief, Zuckerman manages all with lovely tone and perfect pitch, unlike some international stars. We knew he could do it from hearing his Ernesto in “Don Pasquale” and Don Ramiro in “La Cenerentola.” An appealingly gauche Marie, Douglass, too, has the top voice required for Donizetti’s stratosphere, but her midvoice lacks focus, and as a consequence her diction is nonexistent. Under the baton of General Director Leon J. Natker, the orchestra is particularly good, with kudos to the brass. The Malabar costumes are fetching, and the Stivenello sets are adorable. An outstanding and reliable evening of opera, “Daughter of the Regiment” continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 22, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at Birch North Park Theatre, 2891 University Ave., San Diego, $30-$50 (children 5-17 half price). For information visit www.lyricoperasandiego.org or call (619) 239-8836.
