Puccini - Manon Lescaut / Sinopoli, Domingo, Te Kanawa, Allen, Royal Opera Covent Garden

Starring:Kiri Te Kanawa, PlÃ¡cido Domingo, Thomas Allen (III), Forbes Robinson, Robin Leggate, George MacPherson, Anna Cooper, John Fryatt
Director: Brian Large
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa were in top form vocally when this performance was recorded in 1984; Sinopoli's conducting is energetic and stylistically distinctive, and the staging strikes the proper notes of elegance in the early scenes and pathos in the tragic conclusion. This is not the only good video recording of Puccini's first masterpiece, but it ranks with the best.

Amazon.com

Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa were in top form vocally when this performance was recorded in 1984; Sinopoli's conducting is energetic and stylistically distinctive, and the staging strikes the proper notes of elegance in the early scenes and pathos in the tragic conclusion. This is not the only good video recording of Puccini's first masterpiece, but it ranks with the best.

Manon Lescaut is the story of a beautiful young woman who goes astray en route to a convent and drifts into life of self-indulgence, sexual exploitation, and crime, leading to her death as a convict, a story full of operatic situations. It inspired two operas in the standard repertoire, Puccini's and Massenet's earlier Manon. Puccini took a big risk going mano a mano with Massenet, but it worked; he did not eclipse Massenet, but this work gave his career a major boost. This production shows why it has captivated so many audiences. --Joe McLellan

Description

"Manon", wrote Puccini to his publisher Giulio Ricordi in 1889, "is a heroine I believe in and therefore she cannot fail to win the heart of the public." This turned out to be a truly prophetic statement since none of Puccini's other world successes were received on their first nights as rapturously as Manon Lescaut. The popularity of Puccini's great masterpiece has never waned and the highly acclaimed Götz Friedrich production at Covent Garden was hailed as an operatic milestone. Two of the world's leading stars--Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo--head a strong cast conducted by the brilliant Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli. Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

REALLY COMES TOGETHER AT THE END.......2007-07-02

Sinopoli's vibrant conducting and some wonderful singing make this a highly enjoyable production from pit to stage, but it's not without some weaknesses. Placido Domingo sings his heart out, although he loses his voice for a split second in Act One and sometimes he's a bit too strident. If Kiri Te Kanawa's German is poor, her Italian is even worse. She fails to keep up with Domingo in Act One, and throughout Acts Two and Three she's being fed her lines, which is clearly audible on headphones and very annoying. This was obviously not a role she knew well. However, she really rises to the occasion in the last act, where her voice absolutely shines, and her acting becomes surprisingly intense. She and Domingo soar at the end, embuing the finale with haunting beauty and deep pathos. The video quality is a little fuzzy, but not bad in close shots. Sets and costumes are fine and traditional. The sound itself isn't as crystal-clear as recordings can be today, of course, but it's not bad for a video made in 1983 even if there are some minor audio glitches in Act One. The sound is MUCH better than a 2001 Manon on DVD that I recently watched, where Miriam Gauci's wonderful singing was utterly spoiled by the stale, cold, echoey recording. All in all, I also liked this "Manon Lescaut" better than Levine's Met production with Domingo and Scotto even if the latter has fewer flaws. I guess this is my favorite Manon on DVD so far, but there's still room for something better.

Sheer Delight!.......2007-04-14

This is a wonderful DVD. I just can't stop watching it. Domingo is consistently great throughout his career, but here in particular, he is outstanding. Domingo and Te Kanawa are perfect for the leading roles. They sing and act superbly. Sinopoli's conducting is original and powerful. Everytime I watch this DVD, I enjoy watching him conducting right before Act 3. I'm very happy that I bought it.

Great in parts, not so in others.......2006-04-20

I found more black and white in this performance than most of the reviewers here. Acts 3 and 4 were glorious. Kiri te Kanawa and Domingo knock sparks off eachother on stage. Domingo lives the part and brings out the very best in Kiri who, for once, acts instead of looking at herself in the mirror. It seems that when Manon is reduced to rags, Kiri sheds her affectations and sings from the heart. Sinopoli's conducting is outstanding. He manages to make you listen to this potentially-hackneyed work with new ears, finding an untrodden path without sounding perverse or self-conscious. Speeds are generally fast, articulation still clear.
But most of the first two acts I found dragged a little. Maybe Puccini takes some of the blame, but to me the supporting cast, after Allen and the two principals, was underpowered. When Domingo isn't on stage, the temperature drops ten degrees, even Te Kanawa going into suspended animation. Acting in the crowd scenes is rather wooden, direction earthbound.
Through it all the orchestra shines. For that, and the last two acts, this is well worth watching.

Great Opera.......2005-04-26

Manon Lescaut is one of those operas that has all the elements to be a classic. Beautiful music, poignant story and a tragic end. And of course, it is Puccini's! true that it is not his best one. But not because he was not done his best but because he was still walking towards his perfection in style that would achieve later with Tosca or Turandot.

The story based on a novel by I'Abbe Prevost, was a popular example of the moral novels of the XVIIIth. A young girl who in her way to the convent scapes kidnapping by an old noble, with the help of her ambitious brother, and run away with a young poet. To be later the lover of that old aristocrat till her love appears again. In revenge she is imprisioned and sent to the French colony of Florida. Des Grieux, her lover, follow her and she ends tragically in the swamps of Florida.

So with this dramatic story Puccini creates a beautiful opera. A beauty that starts since the first act to get its peak in the third and ends in that dramatic end. Sinopoli was a wonderful director. His conducting was powerful and energetic, but , when is required also tender. Only watching him is an spectacle by itself. The way the orchestra plays the prelude is one of those that make you cry, literally.

And about the singers I think the cast is excellent. Ok, I admit I always like Placido Domingo, even when I should not. But here he is perfect. He has the voice, the looks, the manners to be the perfect Des Grieux. . When he sings "Donna non vidi mai" you suddenly understand why people like opera. Listing to him is a pleasure.

About Kiri Te Kanawa I am sure that although those who think she is a light soprano must admit she sings here beautifully. How she changes from the first act to the end is something that only she could have done. About her flawless, well I consider that a matter of opinion. She shows an splendid technique and evidently she is not Callas. But who is? Her clarity, and emotion is something to be considered. It is not that she was worse or better , they have different ways to approach to the character. And I find her Manon still the best.,above Ms Fleming's, Ms Frenni's or whoever. Because here she had found the perfect balance between performing and singing and that is always something difficult to accomplish.

This production is perfect. I admit I prefer classic productions for this kind of operas. Everything is perfect although I guess that the edition of this dvd it is not as good as it should. I remember watching this opera live from the Covent Garden on tv and the coulours were a little bit stronger. But even with that I think it is a dvd that a good opera aficionado should have or even if you are not. It is easy to fall under the spell of opera after watching this production.

Well sung and staged but only fair video quality.......2005-04-01

As many of the other reviewers have said, this is a beautiful and well-sung performance rapidly paced by Sinopoli. However, the DVD picture quality is only fair--lacks vividness and red or green "haloes" are difficult to reduce--definitely a product of the early 80s. Sound is fine. Te Kanawa undersings her role, Domingo oversings his.

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