Search - Puccini - Manon Lescaut on DVD

Patrick Denniston shines as Chevalier des Grieux

P. Sutherland | Berea, Ohio, USA | 11/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Glyndebourne production of Manon Lescaut is satisfactory in all respects, but I couldn't relate to Adina Nitescu as Manon. Maybe it was her acting; I don't know, she didn't fit the part for me. Although she sang well enough, she kept not looking at des Grieux when singing.

Patrick Denniston, on the other hand, was a very good des Grieux and he got better as the opera progressed, both in singing and acting. All my stars go to his performance.

Paolo Montarsolo played Geronte di Ravoir totally besotted, wearing an idiotic grin as he proudly showed her off to his lecherous friends. This group was particularly creepy. I don't recall any other production where any attention was actually paid to these gawker friends of Geronte. But there was a focus on each individual as they greeted Manon. One of them actually licked her hand.

The rest of the cast did not leave any impression. Except the bad girls at le Havre, of course. They were the usual caricatures of floozies and trollops.

The set for this production was of the minimalist sort. The same background folded in various dimensions as the scenes changed, with doors appearing where needed. The desert scene (outside New Orleans!!!) looked like a badly designed Zen garden, with rocks placed every few feet.

John Eliot Gardiner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra played the score beautifully. Puccini's music is dramatic and passionate.

Overall, this is a winner. If you can't get enough of Manon Lescaut, here is another one.

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