Donizetti's "La Fille du Régiment"

At the premiere, Gaetano Donizetti's opera "La Fille du Régiment" (Daughter of the Regiment) was such a success with the French that it was, for many years, performed every Bastille Day in France. This was a huge honor for an Italian born composer.
Donizetti succeeded in winning the French with this opera-his first Opéra Comique-, which was his main objective with "La Fille du Régiment." He was willing to bend the French Opéra Comique rules of style, slightly, in order to appeal to his French public. Needless-to-say, he accomplished his goal. It pays to take risk if you believe in an idea!