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Manon Lescaut DRAMMA LIRICO IN FOUR ACTS In order to not repeat the mistake he made with "Edgar", Puccini worked with eight librettists (including Ricordi and himself). It was the first time that he picked his own subject, although Ricordi wanted him to change his mind because of fear of comparison with Massenet. Puccini wanted to translate what Massenet expressed in a French way into Italian terms - with desperate passion. Its première was an immense success which spread outside of Italy. At this glorious moment, the composer told a friend, "I think I understand well the operatic language and the operatic stage. I'm sure I'll succeed in this art." "Manon Lescaut" made Puccini a well-known composer throughout the world. It was performed within a few years in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, St. Petersburg, Madrid and Hamburg, and then in London, Lisbon, Budapest, Prague, Philadelphia, etc. Puccini's financial circumstances were changed completely and allowed him to build his own villa in Torre del Lago. |
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Location: Amiens, Paris, Le Havre, Louisiana; Time: the second half of the eighteenth century
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| PROTAGONISTS
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Manon Lescaut (soprano) Renato des Grieux, a student, Manon's lover (tenor) Lescaut, Monon's brother, Sergeant (baritone) Geronte de Ravoir, Treasurer-General of Amiens (bass) Edmondo, a student (tenor) Innkeeper (bass) A dancing master (tenor); A musician (mezzo-soprano) A lamplighter (tenor); A naval commander (bass) A sargeant (bass) Girls, Townsfolk, Students, Musicians, Old beaux and Abbés, Courtesans, Archers, Naval officers, Sailors, .... |
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| PREMIÈRE | Teatro Regio, Turin,
February 1st 1893 Manon: Cesira Ferrani |
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| INSTRUMENTATION | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Eng hn, 2 Cl, BCl,
2 Bn, 4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn, BT, Timp, Trg, Tamb, T-T, GC, Cymb, Car, Cel, Harp, Strings; Offstage:
Fl, Crt, Camp, Tamb, Jingles. |
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| CHORUS | Medium-Sized chorus part | |
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| SYNOPSIS | ACT I: In front of the postal
station of Amiens. Soldiers and townspeople await the arrival of the stagecoach. A young
student, Des Grieux, appears, but does not join his companions. At last the coach arrives
and the young Manon Lescaut, her brother, the Sergeant Lescaut, and the Treasurer-General
Geronte get off. Des Grieux is struck by Manon's beauty and engages her in conversation.
His friend Edmondo discovers that the treasurer-general has arranged for a coach for a man
and a young woman and informs Des Grieux. Des Grieux professes his love for Manon and
persuades her to elope with him. ACT II: Geronte's luxury house in Paris. Manon has left Des Grieux for Geronte after their money ran out, but now she longs to return to her romantic life with Des Grieux. Des Grieux, who has made money gambling, arrives. Manon falls into his arms. They embrace passionately and redeclare their love. Geronte discovers them and threatens them before going off to summon the police. Lescaut arrives and warns them that Geronte has denounced Manon and that the police are on their way. However Manon wastes time gathering up her jewels. Before they can escape, the police arrive, and she is arrested and imprisoned. ACT III: Lescaut has bribed a sentry in a bid to free Manon, but in vain. All the prisoners are taken on board for deportation to America in the early morning. In despair, Des Grieux begs the captain and the guards to let him sail with them. His request is granted. ACT IV: In a desert in America. Manon and Des Grieux have been travelling a long distance without water. She is exhausted and dies in her lover's arms. |
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| LIBRETTO | ACT I | |
| ACT II | ||
| ACT III | ||
| ACT IV | ||
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| DISCOGRAPHY | ||
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| OPERA IN VIDEO AND DVD | ||
