Puccini: Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut, Puccini‘s first major success, is a work of impassioned emotions based on the 18th-century novel by Abbé Prévost, depicting the doomed infatuation of Chevalier des Grieux for beautiful, fun-loving Manon. Puccini clothes the story in warmly passionate music that makes a direct appeal to the listener‘s emotions. “Manon”, wrote Puccini to his publisher Giulio Ricordi in 1889, “is a heroine I believe in and therefore she cannot fail to win the heart of the public.” This turned out to be a truly prophetic statement since none of Puccini’s other world successes were received on their first nights as rapturously as Manon Lescaut. The popularity of Puccini’s great masterpiece has never waned and the production at the Chemnitz Opera House was hailed as “a magnificent event” and “ moments we go to the opera for.”

Conception by Dietrich Hilsdorf

“A magnificent event!” Opernglas

“A really powerful scene […] just before the end. These are the moments we go to the opera for.” Deutschlandradio Kultur

“Astrid Weber as Manon is first class!” Opernwelt

Set and costume designer: Desmond Heeley, Lighting designer: Gil Wechsler & Stage director: Gina Lapinski

Karita Mattila gives a career high performance in Puccini’s passionate opera, Manon Lescaut conducted by James Levine – filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera in Hi-Definition.

Continuing its collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera and its Metropolitan Opera : Live in High-Definition series, EMI Classics is proud to release the METs classic 28 year old production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut on EMI Classics DVD.

This release marks a special moment in the Metropolitan Opera’s history. It is the first time in 18 years since Puccini’s Manon Lescaut was last performed on its great stage.

Manon Lescaut, a French tale telling of a beautiful young woman destroyed by her conflicting needs for love and luxury, was Puccini’s first successful opera and the work that thrust him onto the international stage as Italy’s foremost opera composer.

Finnish soprano, Karita Mattila, as Manon Lescaut is the star of the performance. Her interpretation of the first of Puccini’s many archetypal heroines is ‘riveting’ – New York Times.

Interestingly Mattila waited until her voice had gained maturity and richness before, when she was nearly 40, she first portrayed her Manon Lescaut in 1999. She now returns – enticing James Levine to conduct the work for the first time since 1981.

After 35 highly successful years as Music director of the Metropolitan Opera, a relationship unparalleled and unique in the musical world today, James Levine leads a fresh and intelligent performance.