Puccini's Manon Lescaut
Richard Eyre (stage director), Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) — With Eva-Maria Westbroek (Manon Lescaut) and Massimo Giordano (Des Grieux)
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Cast
Richard Eyre — Stage director
Rob Howell — Assistant stage director
Fotini Dimou — Costume designer
Peter Mumford — Lighting
Sara Erde — Choreographer
Eva-Maria Westbroek — Manon Lescaut
Massimo Giordano — Renato Des Grieux
Lester Lynch — Lescaut
Liang Li — Geronte di Ravoir
Bogdan Mihai — Edmondo
Magdalena Kožená — Singer
Reinhard Dorn — Landlord, naval captain
Philharmonia Chor Wien
Walter Zeh — Chorus director
Program notes
Revisit Puccini's classic Manon Lescaut in a superb staging from the 2014 Baden-Baden Festival! This beloved opera, inspired by the novel of the same name by the Abbé Prévost, has been taken up time and again by the greatest stage directors of every era who can't help but fall for the tragic title character's passionate love story. Sir Richard Eyre's memorable mise en scène is complemented here by the superb Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon Rattle!
Eyre has chosen to transpose the opera's action to France under the German occupation, modernizing numerous elements of the libretto by Ricordi and Giacosa with the help of Robert Howell's remarkable set design and Peter Mumford's admirable lighting work. The renowned Eva-Maria Westbroek steps admirably into the title role, having perfected her performance even further following a celebrated run in Brussels. In the pit, Sir Simon and the Berliner Phil breathe new life into the music, bringing out unheard nuances and amplifying the drama of Puccini's timeless score.
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