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Overview

Synopsis

Manon is a tale of love, greed, and betrayal. Manon is a young girl who is being sent to a convent by her family. She runs into Des Grieux, who falls instantly in love with her, and the two decide to elope and run away to Paris. They live happily for some time, until Manon is persuaded to leave Des Grieux for the promise of luxury and riches with De Brétigny. Some time later, Des Grieux is so devastated that he has decided to enter into the priesthood. Manon hears of this and rushes to convince him of their love. The two are reunited, until they gamble away their fortune and are both arrested for cheating in a game. While Des Grieux is released, Manon is sentenced to long years in prison and deportation to America. Des Grieux seeks her out to rescue her, but arrives too late. Manon dies in his arms.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1884
Genres
Drama, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
end of the 19th century, france
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Manon Lescaut

Lead

Female

Soprano

Des Grieux

Lead

Male

Tenor

Monsieur de Brétigny

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Lescaut

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Le Comte des Grieux

Supporting

Male

Bass

Guillot Morfontaine

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Poussette, Javotte, Rosette

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Prélude

Acte I

  • Holà! Hé! Monsieur l’Hôtelier! (Poussette, Javotte, Rosetta, Guillot, De Brétigny, l’Hôtelier)
  • Allez a l’auberge voisine (Chorus, Lescaut)
  • Je suis encore tout étourdie (Manon)
  • Revenez, Guillot, revenez! (Pousette, Javotte, Rosette)
  • Regardez-moi bien dans les yeux ... Ne bronchez pas (Lescaut)
  • Voyons, Manon, plus de chimères (Manon)
  • Et je sais votre nom (Des Grieux, Manon)
  • Plus un sou! le tour est très plaisant! (Lescaut, Guillot, De Brétigny, l’Hôtelier, Poussette, Javotte, Rosetta, Chorus)

Acte II

Acte III

  • Entr’acte Menuet
  • C’est fête au Cours-la-Reine! (Chorus)
  • La charmante promenade (Poussette, Javotte)
  • A quoi bon l’économie! (Lescaut)
  • Voici les élégantes! (Chorus)
  • Je marche sur tous les chemins! (Manon)
  • Obéissons quand leur voix appelle (Manon, Chorus)
  • Pardon!...mais j’étais là (Manon, Le Comte Des Grieux)
  • Quelle éloquence! l’admirable orateur! (Chorus)
  • Épouse quelque brave fille (Le Comte Des Grieux)
  • Ah! fuyez, douce image (Des Grieux)
  • Pardonnez-moi, Dieu de toute puissance (Manon)
  • Oui! je fus cruelle et coupable! (Manon, Des Grieux)
  • N’est-ce plus ma main que celle main presse? (Manon)

Acte IV:

  • Le joueur sans prudence livre tout au hazard (Chorus)
  • A l’Hôtel de Transylvanie (Poussette, Javotte, Rosette)
  • C’est ici que celle que j’aime (Lescaut)
  • J’enfourche aussi Pégase (Guillot)
  • Manon, sphinx étonnant (Des Grieux, Manon, Lescaut)
  • A nous les amours et les roses! (Manon, Poussette, Javotte, Rosette)
  • Oui, je viens t’arracher à la honte! (Le Comte Des Grieux, Manon, Des Grieux, Guillot, Poussette, Javotte, Rosette, Chorus)

Acte V:

  • Capitaine, ô tué, es-tu fatigué (Chorus)
  • Tu pleures! (Manon, Des Grieux)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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