Drama lirico in 4 acts
Libretto by Luigi Illica, Domenico Oliva, Giulio Ricordi & Marco Praga
First performed February 1, 1893, Turin
This production first seen October 6 2019
Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before curtain up, available here shortly before opening night and everywhere where podcasts are to be found.
Sung in Italian with German & English surtitles
Manon Lescaut Ghiulnara Raileanu
Des Grieux Matteo Lippi
Lescaut Mikołaj Trąbka / Domen Križaj
Geronte de Ravoir Erik van Heyningen
Edmondo Kudaibergen Abildin
Wirt / Captain Aleksander Myrling
Musician Ruby Dibble°
Dance teacher / Lamplighter Abraham Bretón
Sargeant Pete Thanapat
° Member of the Opera Studio
A station. Evening. Edmondo, a student, with nothing but love on his mind, delights in the joys of youth. He urges his friend Des Grieux to look for adventure too. Des Grieux starts flirting with girls for fun. More people arrive, including Manon and her brother Lescaut. Des Grieux is overwhelmed by her beauty and talks to her at the earliest opportunity. When Lescaut calls for his sister, Des Grieux insists on seeing her again. The young woman also caught the eye of a wealthy older gentleman, Geronte. Having heard about his beautiful sister's qualities from Lescaut, he decides to abduct her. Geronte makes arrangements while Lescaut's busy playing cards. Edmondo realises what he's up to and warns his friend. Des Grieux and Manon meet again. He confesses his love. When she hears about the planned abduction, Manon eventually agrees to run away with Des Grieux. Edmondo, who fixed everything, informs Geronte that he's too late. Lescaut assures outraged Geronte that Manon couldn't bear living with a penniless student for very long. Act 2 A nightclub. Lescaut's prediction was correct: Manon left Des Grieux for Geronte, who introduced her to the »Art of the Salon«. Although spoiled by clothes and admiration, her new lover's kisses taste costly and cold. She tells her brother about her boredom and longing for Des Grieux. Lescaut knows he's turned to gambling, to try and win Manon back with money. He decides to bring Des Grieux to Manon. After Manon has danced for Geronte and the guests, Des Grieux appears and reproaches her. Manon begs for forgiveness. They soon surrender to their mutual passion. Geronte surprises them and is mocked by Manon. Des Grieux wants to leave immediately, but Manon can't bear to leave wealth behind and starts packing. Geronte, meanwhile, has reported Manon. Lescaut storms in to warn them. but they can't get away in time, and Manon's arrested. Act 3 A prison. Manon and other women are being prepared for deportation. Des Grieux, with Lescaut's help, attempts to free her, in vain. The lovers are in despair. A roll call begins for the imprisoned women, under running commentary from the crowd. Des Grieux doesn't want to be parted from her. He begs the captain to let him go with her. His wish is granted. Act 4 A desert. On the run again, Manon and Des Grieux are stranded in the middle of nowhere. While Des Grieux goes on a futile search for water, Manon, completely exhausted, relives her past. She dies in his arms.
Manon Lescaut flees to Europe, dreaming of a better life, where she enters into a passionate relationship with a student, Des Grieux. But their happiness is short-lived: fed up with living in penury she takes up with Geronte, working in his nightclub as a dancer. Des Grieux reappears and they rekindle their love. Geronte finds them and words are exchanged, he calls for the police, and Manon, unable to escape in time, is arrested. After fleeing to America together their journey ends in a desert.
Giacomo Puccini’s powerful, richly contrasting score portrays a self-destructive society, with Manon and Des Grieux cocooned in their own dreams and desires. The composer based his work on a story by Abbé Prevost, which exposed the double standards of Parisian aristocracy at the beginning of the 18th century. Director Alex Ollé takes this further, transposing Puccini's opera into the present day in his visually stunning production.
