DVD:
Puccini's masterpiece sung by opera's finest stars

Puccini’s masterpiece Manon Lescaut, sung by some of opera’s finest stars in this archive recording.

Puccini began to compose Manon Lescaut in 1889. It was an act of supreme bravado as only five years previously Massenet had premiered Manon, based on the same novel by Abbé Prévost. The story is set in France and Louisiana in the early 18th century and focuses on – in a way different to Massenet – the fortunes and tragedy of the hero, the Chevalier des Grieux, and his lover, Manon. Its ceaseless melodic beauty and drama were recognised immediately and the first night was an overwhelming triumph, with Puccini effectively anointed as Verdi’s successor and Italy’s greatest operatic composer.

Ninety years after its 1893 premiere in Turin, the work was staged by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The 1983 production was conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli, making his British operatic debut to such remarkable effect that The Times referred to him as ‘Europe’s most spectacular new opera star’. The cast included three of the greatest exponents of their roles; Plácido Domingo as the romantic hero whose performance ‘was a cause for drop-jawed wonder’ (The Spectator), the radiant Kiri Te Kanawa as Manon and Thomas Allen as her brother, Lescaut. Director Götz Friedrich’s largely traditional staging proved a major theatrical success.

"Conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli is 'one of the opera world's hottest properties - he sets scores ablaze" (The Times)

Genre Opera
Production year 1983
Video format 4:3
Audio format Dolby Digital Stereo
Stage Director Götz Friedrich
TV Director Humphrey Burton
Orchestra / Band Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli
Choir Royal Opera Chorus
Costumes Aliute Meczies
Soloist Thomas Allen
Soloist Kiri te Kanawa
Soloist Plácido Domingo