Given the international nature of “The Daughter of the Regiment,” a French opera by an Italian composer, set in Switzerland and sung — in a departure from the company’s usual custom — in English, who would be better suited for the title role in the Kansas City Lyric Opera’s upcoming production than an Israeli-born American citizen who currently resides in Germany? Such a singer is Nili Riemer, a young soprano who is quickly making her mark on the international opera scene.
“Daughter of the Regiment” will be Riemer’s second appearance with the Lyric, following her portrayal of Mabel in “Pirates of Penzance” two seasons ago. She has fond memories of her previous visit and of working with a company which is dedicated to bringing up-and-coming singers to the city. She is especially looking forward to working with Dottie Danner, who “is known for her high-energy staging, so you can bet that I’ll be getting a workout whipping all the soldiers into shape.” She is also anxious to work with such talents as Vic Robertson and KU-based John Stephens and Joyce Castle.
Originally hailing from Netania and Herzelia, just outside of Tel Aviv, Riemer immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 9 years old. She still has ties to her native land, visiting every summer, and speaks fluent Hebrew. About eight years ago she studied at the Israel Vocal Arts International. She has strong Jewish roots, having attended a Jewish day school. At Tufts University she was active in Jewish student life and sang in a Jewish a-cappella choir, “Shir Appeal,” which toured the country. Before devoting herself to singing as a full-time career, she worked at the Israeli Consulate and the Aliya Center in Boston. In her recitals, she usually tries to incorporate some Jewish music. Though not formally affiliated with any of Frankfurt’s synagogues, she and her German-Jewish husband feel strongly connected to their Jewish heritage through their ties with Israel.
Music has always been an important part of her life, even before her conscious memory of it. Her parents recall her singing even as an infant, and she knew 50 songs by the age of 3. At age 15 she began to take voice lessons. At first she wanted to sing Broadway music, but when her voice teacher heard her sing “Think of Me” (from “Phantom of the Opera”) she asked her to try Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” (from “Gianni Schicchi”), and she was soon hooked on opera. She earned her master’s degree in voice at State University of New York at Binghamton (author’s note: my alma mater). Her resume includes appearances in most of the standard roles for coloratura (high-voice) sopranos, such as Queen of the Night, Lucia, Despina, Lakme, Olympia (a roll which she played on roller skates) and Cunegonde — as well as some rarer ones, such as her upcoming appearance as the controller in Jonathan Dove’s “Flight.” At the top of her wish list for future projects is Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss’s “Ariadne auf Naxos”— “a smart, sensual and sarcastic character that I think I could really have fun with onstage.” She gets as much enjoyment from the portrayal of a character as she does from singing, and she is always “looking for the next director to come up with some crazy idea” — as long as the concept makes sense. She enjoys doing “crazy things onstage with a hyperactive character.”
As for “La Fille du Regiment,” she describes it as the “one to see” for a first-time opera-going experience. It tells the story of a young woman believed to be an orphan who is adopted by a regiment of soldiers, who collectively become her father, and of her romance with a young man who enlists in the regiment in hopes of marrying her. Of the character, Riemer comments, “She’s a daddy’s girl who is tough as nails but discovers that she has a sensitive side to her. It will be fun getting to play a tomboy … but I have to find a feminine element in my swagger and let that develop throughout the show, as I am taught to become more refined.” One aspect of Marie’s character that disturbs many viewers (spoiler-alert) is that when she learns of her high-born ancestry she passively agrees to an arranged marriage suitable to her new station in life. Riemer explains, however, that “Marie is a soldier at heart — and a soldier follows orders.”
The Lyric’s production promises to be the sort of high-energy show in which Riemer thrives. Opera buffs and opera neophytes should have an equally good time.
“The Daughter of the Regiment,” will be presented by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Feb/ 19, 23, 25 and 27. For ticket information contact (816) 471-7344.