Manon Lescaut
Opera
Writers:Giacomo Puccini Ruggero Leoncavallo Marco Praga Domenico Oliva Giuseppe Giacosa Luigi Illica
Overview
Synopsis
A tale of ill-fated romance, Manon Lescaut has been a favorite of opera goers since its debut. It is the story of a lovely young woman, Manon, who is being taken by her brother to live in a convent. Des Grieux, a local student, is overwhelmed by Manon’s beauty and falls madly in love with her at first sight. Learning that Manon is headed to the convent, he convinces her to run away with him. After a few months, Manon grows bored of being poor living with Des Grieux and she goes to live with Geronte, a wealthy tax-collector whom her brother had chosen as her protector and hopeful suitor. Geronte dotes on her, and Manon has everything she could ever want, but Manon grows bored of having “things” and longs for the passion she felt with Des Grieux. Soon reunited with Des Grieux, Geronte catches the couple together in the throes of passion and has Manon arrested. Des Grieux and Manon's brother, Lescaut, unsuccessfully attempt to help her escape from jail, and as she is about to be deported to Louisiana, Des Grieux manages to board the ship to the United States as a member of the crew. Manon and Des Grieux eventually escape New Orleans, but Manon collapses as they seek refuge. As she is dying, Manon declares her love for Des Grieux one final time. The ill-fated love of Manon and Des Grieux is hauntingly beautiful and enthralling. The original novel of this passionate tale was a huge success and has been the subject of many operas, most notably Manon by Jules Massenet.
Show Information
- Music
- Giacomo Puccini
- Libretto
- Ruggero Leoncavallo , Marco Praga , Domenico Oliva , Giuseppe Giacosa , Luigi Illica
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1893
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- amiens, france, 18th century
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Ideal For
- professional opera companies, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
This opera originally premiered at the Teatro Regio, Turin, in 1893. The libretto was pieced together by five different librettists: Ruggero Leoncavallo, Marco Praga, Giuseppe Giacosa, Domenico Oliva, and Luigi Illica; however, no one was credited on the cover of the score as it was such a confused process. Puccini had been discouraged to choose any topic around Abbé Prevost’s novel L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut because Jules Massenet had already created such a
to read the context for Manon Lescaut and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
ACT 1
In Amiens, France, a group of students have gathered in a large public square near the Paris gate. The students are all gambling and drinking. Edmondo, a songwriter, begins to sing a song about the pleasures of youth (“Ave, sera gentile”). Edmondo and his fellow male students pass their time flirting with all the female students. Des Grieux enters, but does not join his companions. Edmondo convinces him to feign affection for the girls, but the song that Des Grieux sings is
to read the plot for Manon Lescaut and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
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|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
Songs
- ACT 1
- Amiens France - Edmondo, Des Grieux, Geronte, Lescaut, Manon, Innkeeper, Chorus
- "Donna non vidi mai" - Des Grieux
- ACT 2
- Gerontes House - Manon, Lescaut, Geronte, Singer, Des Grieux, Sergeant, Hair Dresser, Chorus
- "Sei splendida e lucente" - Lescaut
- "In quelle trine morbide" - Manon
- ACT 3
- Outside a prison in Le Havre - Manon, Des Grieux, Lescaut, Lamplighter, Sergeant, Naval Commander
- ACT 4
- A Desert - Manon, Des Grieux
- "Sola, perduta, abbandonata" - Manon
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.
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