Lyric Opera’s ‘Daughter of the Regiment’ a romp rich with laughs and some of Donizetti’s best music

Marie (Lisette Oropesa) grows up under the care of a French military brigade in Lyric Opera’s production of “The Daughter of the Regiment.” (Michael Brosilow)

Given the breadth of the operatic repertoire, some major works inevitably fall through the cracks. But it’s still hard to believe that Lyric Opera of Chicago had only presented “The Daughter of the Regiment (La fille du régiment)” once in its history — a star-studded production that took place almost exactly 50 years ago.

To the good fortune of local opera lovers, the company has righted that wrong and done justice to this 1840 comic gem with a charming, effervescent and fun-filled production that opened Saturday evening at the Lyric Opera House.