Program

Giacomo Puccini, Manon Lescaut

Act I

I: "Ave, sera gentile"

I: "L'amor?! L'amor?!"

I: "Tra voi belle, brune e bionde"

I: "Ma bravo!"

I: "Discendono, vediam"

I: "Cortese damigella"

I: "Donna non vidi mai"

I: "La tua ventura ci rassicura"

I: "La tua Proserpina"

I: "Vedete? Io son fedele"

I: "Non c'è più vino?"

I: "Cavalli pronti avete"

Act II

II: "Dispettosetto questo riccio!"

II: "In quelle trine morbide"

II: "Poichè tu vuoi saper?"

II: "Che ceffi son costor?... Sulla vetta tu del mondo"

II: "Paga costor!"

II: "Minuetto"

II: "Oh, sarò la più bella!... Tu, tu, amore tu"

II: "Ah! Affé, madamigella"

II: "Ah! ah! Liberi!... Ah, Manon mi tradisce"

II: "Lescaut? tu qui?"

Act III

III: Intermezzo

III: "Ansia eterna, crudel"

III: "e Kate ripose al Re"

III: "Manon, disperato è il mio prego!"

III: "All'armi! All'armi!"

III: "Rosetta!"

III: "Presto! In fila"

Act IV

IV: "Tutta su me ti posa"

IV: "Manon, senti, amor mio"

IV: "Sei tu che piangi?"

Sola, perduta, abbandonata

IV: "Fra le tue braccie, amore"

Puccini's Manon Lescaut

Richard Eyre (stage director), Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) — With Eva-Maria Westbroek (Manon Lescaut) and Massimo Giordano (Des Grieux)

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Cast

Richard Eyre — Stage director

Rob Howell — Assistant stage director

Fotini Dimou — Costume designer

Peter Mumford — Lighting

Sara Erde — Choreographer

Eva-Maria Westbroek — Manon Lescaut

Massimo Giordano — Renato Des Grieux

Lester Lynch — Lescaut

Program notes

Revisit Puccini's classic Manon Lescaut in a superb staging from the 2014 Baden-Baden Festival! This beloved opera, inspired by the novel of the same name by the Abbé Prévost, has been taken up time and again by the greatest stage directors of every era who can't help but fall for the tragic title character's passionate love story. Sir Richard Eyre's memorable mise en scène is complemented here by the superb Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon Rattle!

Eyre has chosen to transpose the opera's action to France under the German occupation, modernizing numerous elements of the libretto by Ricordi and Giacosa with the help of Robert Howell's remarkable set design and Peter Mumford's admirable lighting work. The renowned Eva-Maria Westbroek steps admirably into the title role, having perfected her performance even further following a celebrated run in Brussels. In the pit, Sir Simon and the Berliner Phil breathe new life into the music, bringing out unheard nuances and amplifying the drama of Puccini's timeless score.

A closer look: featured composers

Giacomo Puccini

Further listening: featured works

Manon Lescaut

Giacomo Puccini (Composer)