Sunday 23 June at 6.00pm on RNZ Concert
PUCCINI: Manon Lescaut
Dalibor Jenis Photo: Supplied
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.
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.
Performers:
Manon......................... Serena Farnocchia
Des Grieux.................. Kamen Chanev
Lescaut........................ Dalibor Jenis
Geronte........................ Pelham Andrews
Also featuring Bianca Andrew, Matteo Falcier, James Ioelu
Freemasons NZ Opera Chorus Auckland, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra/Giordano Bellincampi
Recorded in Auckland Town Hall by RNZ
Producer: Tim Dodd
Engineer: Adrian Hollay
