Manon Lescaut
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra presents 'Opera in Concert'.
Manon Lescaut is too young to really know who she is. What she does know is that she’s beautiful. Heart-stoppingly beautiful. What she learns later is that her charms are a commodity that can be bought and sold like any other.
Dalibor Jenis Photo: Supplied
The young student Des Grieux is overtaken by love the moment he sees her, and indeed, Manon falls in love with him. But Manon loves other things too – attention, revelry, wealth.
One of the original anti-heroines, Manon makes one poor decision after another, leaving her an exploited, desolate woman. Yet, right up until the final note, she remains as mesmerising to us as she does to her haplessly devoted lover.
PUCCINI: Manon Lescaut
Manon......................... Serena Farnocchia
Des Grieux................... Kamen Chanev
Lescaut........................ Dalibor Jenis
Geronte........................ Pelham Andrews
Bianca Andrew, James Ioelu, Matteo Falcier
Freemasons NZ Opera Chorus, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra/Giordano Bellincampi (RNZ)
Presenter: Indra Hughes
Producer: Tim Dodd
Sound Engineer: Adrian Hollay
Recorded in Auckland Town Hall by RNZ Concert, 14 July 2017
