Tallinn
Manon Lescaut
| Day/Time: | Friday, June 15th 2012. 19:00 |
| Venue: | Estonian National Opera, Tallinn |
ABOUT THE EVENT
Giacomo Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" will be performed by the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn.
The staging by Andrejs Žagars takes us to Saint Tropez of the 1960s and tells us the story of Manon, the most desirable woman in the city. Luxury is her passion and weakness. Manon gets everything a woman can dream of, but fate challenges her. She is given a choice – follow her loved one Des Grieux into poverty or choose a life of plenty with a man she does not love.
Puccini had the bold idea to write an opera based on the novel by Abbé Prévost only five years after the premier of the highly successful opera Manon by Jules Massenet in 1884. Puccini confidently stated: “Why shouldn’t there be two operas about Manon? A woman like Manon can have more than one lover.” He added: “Massenet feels it as a Frenchman, with powder and minuets. I shall feel it as an Italian, with a desperate passion!”
The premier of Manon Lescaut in the Teatro Regio in Turin on February 1, 1893 was accompanied by sensational success. Puccini rose to heavens of the Italian opera like a comet and became a household name across the entire Europe. Puccini excelled in playing with the musical portraits of the heroes and creating real and soulful characters. His future masterpieces can be foreseen in the music of the opera, its colourful orchestration and beautiful melodies. Despite several different authors, the opera boasts a strong libretto. Composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, playwright Marco Praga, poet Domenico Oliva, librettist Luigi Illica, Giacomo Puccini himself and Giulio Ricordi all contributed to writing the libretto. As there were so many authors and it was impossible to bring out one specific name, no one was credited on the title page as the author. Nowadays, Oliva, who wrote the verses and Illica, who gave his final touch to the libretto, are mentioned.
Synopsis
Saint Tropez, the 1960s. The stunning Manon, walking together with her brother Lescaut and a wealthy old businessman Geronte de Ravoir, has caught the eye of a young student called Des Grieux, who falls in love with the girl. He persuades her to run away with him. Lescaut and Geronte, who is also in love with Manon, set out to follow them. Manon becomes Geronte’s lover, but soon grows weary of him and starts to miss Des Grieux. Lescaut finds the young man and brings him to Manon. The couple makes plans of eloping, but Geronte arrives unexpectedly. A quarrel develops between Manon and Geronte and she pushes the old man hard, causing him serious injuries. Geronte has Manon arrested, accusing her of assault. The authorities decide to send Manon out of the country. Des Grieux cannot live without her and follows her. They try to escape by plane but land in a desert. Manon’s strength is running out and she dies in the arms of Des Grieux.
Opera by Giacomo Puccini in four acts
Libretto by Domenico Oliva and Luigi Illica, based on the novel Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost
World premiere on February 1, 1893 in Teatro Regio in Turin
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on November 4, 2011
Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Stage Director: Andrejs Žagars (Latvian National Opera)
Set Designers: Renāte Lorence (Latvia)
Costumes Designer: Kristīna Pasternaka (Latvian National Opera)
Lighting Designer: Kevin Wyn Jones (England)
Last update 2012 Editorial Team Classictic.com
Customer Rating
17 Customer Reviews
Matti S., Finland wrote on November 14, 2011:
"After a somewhat unclear start the production turned to be an excellent one. The time-transfer - into the late 1960´s - wasn´t altogether justified, but especially the last two acts were wonderful music theatre. "
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