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''Manon'' () is an ''
opéra comique ''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular '' opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent (and to a l ...
'' in five acts by
Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are '' Manon'' (1884) and ''Werther' ...
to a French
libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
by
Henri Meilhac Henri Meilhac (23 February 1830 – 6 July 1897) was a French dramatist and opera librettist, best known for his collaborations with Ludovic Halévy on Georges Bizet's ''Carmen'' and on the works of Jacques Offenbach, as well as Jules Massenet's ...
and
Philippe Gille Philippe Emile François Gille (10 December 1831 – 19 March 1901) was a French dramatist and opera librettist, who was born and died in Paris. He wrote over twenty librettos between 1857 and 1893, the most famous of which are Massenet's ''Manon ...
, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the
Abbé Prévost Antoine François Prévost d'Exiles ( , , ; 1 April 169725 November 1763), usually known simply as the Abbé Prévost, was a French priest, author, and novelist. Life and works He was born at Hesdin, Artois, and first appears with the full nam ...
. It was first performed at the
Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...
in Paris on 19 January 1884, with sets designed by
Eugène Carpezat Eugène Louis Carpezat (Paris, 4 November 1833 – Paris, 26 February 1912) was an acclaimed French scenographer in the Belle Époque. Career Carpezat was the son of lemonade makers Claude François Carpezat and Jacqueline Caniou. After conside ...
(act 1), Auguste Alfred Rubé and
Philippe Chaperon Philippe Chaperon (2 February 1823 – 21 December 1906) was a French painter and scenic designer, particularly known for his work at the Paris Opera. He produced stage designs for the premieres of numerous 19th-century operas, including Verdi's ...
(acts 2 and 3), and
Jean-Baptiste Lavastre Jean-Baptiste Lavastre (24 August 1839 – 24 April 1891) was a French landscape painter and scenic designer. Biography A student of Édouard Desplechin as soon as 1854 when he was only fifteen (and then his associate from 1864 to 1870), Jea ...
(act 4). Prior to Massenet's work, Halévy (''Manon Lescaut'', ballet, 1830) and Auber (''
Manon Lescaut ''The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and Manon Lescaut'' ( ) is a novel by Antoine François Prévost. Published in 1731, it is the seventh and final volume of ''Mémoires et aventures d'un homme de qualité'' (''Memoirs and Adventures of a Ma ...
'', opéra comique, 1856) had used the subject for musical stage works. Massenet also wrote a one-act sequel to ''Manon'', '' Le portrait de Manon'' (1894), involving the Chevalier des Grieux as an older man. The composer worked at the score of ''Manon'' at his country home outside Paris and also at a house at
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
once occupied by Prévost himself. ''Manon'' is Massenet's most popular and enduring opera and, having "quickly conquered the world's stages",Macdonald 2001, p. 544. it has maintained an important place in the repertory since its creation. It is the quintessential example of the charm and vitality of the music and culture of the Parisian
Belle Époque The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque (; French for "Beautiful Epoch") is a period of French and European history, usually considered to begin around 1871–1880 and to end with the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Occurring during the era ...
. In 1893 an opera by
Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long li ...
entitled ''
Manon Lescaut ''The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and Manon Lescaut'' ( ) is a novel by Antoine François Prévost. Published in 1731, it is the seventh and final volume of ''Mémoires et aventures d'un homme de qualité'' (''Memoirs and Adventures of a Ma ...
'', and based on the same novel was premiered and has also become popular.


Performance history

The opera was a mainstay of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, reaching its 1,000th performance there in 1919, its 1,500th in 1931 and 2,000th in 1952. The first Manon was
Marie Heilbron Marie Heilbron (or Heilbronn, – 31 March 1886) was a Belgian operatic coloratura soprano, particularly associated with the French repertory, creator of Jules Massenet's quintessential French heroine ''Manon''. Born in Antwerp, she studied ...
; other noted interpreters include
Sibyl Sanderson Sibyl Sanderson (December 7, 1864May 16, 1903) was a famous American operatic dramatic coloratura soprano during the Parisian Belle Époque. Biography She was born in Sacramento, California, in the United States. Sibyl's father Silas Sanderson ...
(Massenet's personal favorite),
Fanny Heldy Fanny Heldy (29 February 1888 – 13 December 1973) was a Belgian lyric soprano opera singer. Life Born Marguerite Virginie Emma Clémentine Deceuninck in Ath (some sources say Liège), Hainaut Province, Belgium, she graduated from the Royal Conse ...
,
Lucrezia Bori Lucrezia Bori (24 December 1887 – 14 May 1960) was a Spanish operatic singer, a lyric soprano and a tireless and effective fundraiser for the Metropolitan Opera. Biography Lucrezia Bori was born on 24 December 1887, in Valencia, Spain. ...
,
Amelita Galli-Curci Amelita Galli-Curci (18 November 1882 – 26 November 1963) was an Italian coloratura soprano. She was one of the most popular operatic singers of the 20th century, with her recordings selling in large numbers. Early life She was born as Am ...
,
Bidu Sayão Balduína "Bidú" de Oliveira Sayão (11 May 1902 – 12 March 1999) was a Brazilian opera soprano. One of Brazil's most famous musicians, Sayão was a leading artist of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1937 to 1952. Life and career ...
,
Victoria de los Ángeles Victoria de los Ángeles López García (1 November 192315 January 2005) was a Catalan Spanish operatic lyric soprano and recitalist whose career began after the Second World War and reached its height in the years from the mid-1950s to the mid- ...
,
Anna Moffo Anna Moffo (June 27, 1932 – March 9, 2006) was an American opera singer, television personality, and actress. One of the leading lyric- coloratura sopranos of her generation, she possessed a warm and radiant voice of considerable range and agil ...
, Beverly Sills, Edita Gruberová,
Renée Fleming Renée Lynn Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American soprano, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Fleming has been nominated for 1 ...
,
Anna Netrebko Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко; born 18 September 1971) is an Austrian operatic soprano with an active international career and performed prominently at the Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna ...
, and Natalie Dessay. Due to its heavy vocal demands, the role of Manon was described by Sills as "the French Tristan und Isolde, Isolde". As famous interpreters of Des Grieux, Kobbé lists Edmond Clément, Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa and Ferruccio Tagliavini; Wolff also lists Gaston Micheletti, Adolphe Maréchal, Charles Fontaine and Libero de Luca. Within a year of its Paris premiere, ''Manon'' was given its UK premiere in January 1885, in Liverpool; in the US, the Academy of Music (New York City), Academy of Music in New York presented the opera later the same year, on 23 December. At the Royal Opera House in London it was first presented 19 May 1891. The Metropolitan Opera gave its first staging on 16 January 1895, and ''Manon'' has subsequently often been performed there.
Anna Netrebko Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко; born 18 September 1971) is an Austrian operatic soprano with an active international career and performed prominently at the Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna ...
starred in a new production directed by Laurent Pelly, a co-production with the Royal Opera House, which was simulcast in Metropolitan Opera Live in HD, HD on 7 April 2012. The San Francisco Opera gave the opera many stagings beginning on 29 September 1924. In the 1980s a piano score was discovered where spoken dialogue was set as recitative by Massenet, possibly for the Italian premiere; this version was performed at the Opéra de Saint-Etienne as part of the 2009 Massenet Festival.Laurent Bury
"Jean-Louis Pichon: 'Je pense avoir fait évoluer le regard des gens sur Massenet'"
Interview with Jean-Louis Pichon, 9 November 2011, on forumopera.com. Accessed 10 August 2014.
Today, ''Manon'' is frequently performed. Performances from 1 January 2012 forward
on operabase.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014
The ballet ''L'histoire de Manon'' by Kenneth MacMillan, although using music entirely written by Massenet, does not include any from ''Manon''.Bland 1981, p.


Roles


Synopsis

:Place: France :Time: the reign of Louis XV


Act 1

''The courtyard of an inn at Amiens'' De Brétigny, a nobleman, has just arrived, in the company of Guillot, an aging rake who is the Minister of Finance, along with three flirtatious young actresses. While the innkeeper is serving dinner to the party, the townspeople collect to witness the arrival of the coach from Arras. Among them is Lescaut, a guardsman, who tells his comrades that he plans to meet a kinswoman. The coach appears, and among the crowd Lescaut quickly identifies his fragile young cousin, Manon, who appears to be somewhat confused ("''Je suis encor tout étourdie''") since this is her first journey, one which is taking her to the convent. Manon is accosted by the opportunistic Guillot, who tells her that he has a carriage waiting, in which they can leave together. His heavy-handed seduction is undermined by the return of Lescaut, who then lectures the young woman ("''Regardez-moi bien dans les yeux''") on proper behavior. He leaves her unattended once more and she admires the three fashionably-dressed actresses, but reproaches herself ("''Voyons, Manon''"), unconvincingly vowing to rid herself of all worldly visions. Des Grieux, traveling home to see his father, catches sight of Manon, and instantly falls in love. When he approaches, she is charmed by his chivalrous address ("''Et je sais votre nom''"), and their exchange rapidly becomes a mutual avowal of love. Both their planned journeys, hers to the convent and des Grieux's to his home, are swiftly abandoned, as they decide to flee together ("''Nous vivrons à Paris''"). But there are hints of incompatible aspirations: while he returns, over and again, to "tous les deux" (together), the phrase she fondly repeats is, "à Paris". Making good use of the carriage provided by the disappointed Guillot, the lovers escape.


Act 2

''Manon and des Grieux's apartment in Paris'' With little hope, des Grieux writes to his father, imploring permission to marry Manon. Lescaut enters intent on creating a scene and accompanied by de Brétigny, who is masquerading as a fellow-guardsman. But his concern for offended family honor is only camouflage for his alliance with his friend. Trying to prove his honorable intentions, des Grieux shows Lescaut the letter to his father. Meanwhile, de Brétigny warns Manon that des Grieux is going to be abducted that evening, on the orders of his father, and offers her his protection and wealth, trying to persuade her to move on to a better future. After the two visitors depart, Manon appears to vacillate between accepting de Brétigny's offer and warning des Grieux. When her lover goes out to post his letter, her farewell to the humble domesticity she has shared ("''Adieu, notre petite table''") makes clear she has decided to go with de Brétigny. Unaware of her change of heart, des Grieux returns and conveys his more modest vision of their future happiness ("''En fermant les yeux''", the "Dream Song"). Going outside to investigate an apparent disturbance, he is seized and hustled away, leaving Manon to voice her regrets.


Act 3

''Scene 1: Paris, the promenade of the Cours-la-Reine on a feast-day'' Among the throng of holiday-makers and vendors of all kinds are Lescaut and Guillot, the latter still flirting with the young actresses, while Lescaut expresses the joys of gambling ("''À quoi bon l'économie?''"). De Brétigny arrives, soon joined by Manon, now sumptuously dressed and with a retinue of admirers. She sings about her new situation ("''Je marche sur tous les chemins''"), following it with a gavotte ("''Obéissons quand leur voix appelle''") on the joys of love and youth. Des Grieux's father, the Comte, greets de Brétigny and Manon overhears that her former lover is ''Chevalier'' no longer, but ''Abbé'', having entered the seminary of Saint-Sulpice. Approaching the Comte, Manon tries to discover whether his son still loves her. Guillot then attempts to win Manon over by bringing the ballet dancers of the Académie Royale de Musique, which she had expressed a desire to see. However Manon is seized by the desire to see des Grieux once more, and admits, to Guillot's annoyance when asked, that she paid no attention to the dancers. She hurries off to Saint-Sulpice. ''Scene 2: Saint-Sulpice'' From the chapel, the congregation is leaving, enthusiastic over the sermon of the new abbé ("''Quelle éloquence!''"). Des Grieux enters, in clerical garb, and his father adds his voice to the chorus of praise, but tries to dissuade his son from this new life, so that he can perpetuate the family name ("''Epouse quelque brave fille''"). He leaves, having failed to shake his son's resolve and, alone, des Grieux relives memories of Manon ("''Ah! Fuyez, douce image''"). As he prays, Manon herself appears, to implore his forgiveness for her faithlessness. Furiously, he attempts to reject her, but when (in "''N'est-ce plus ma main?''") she recalls their past intimacies, his resistance is overcome, and their voices join in an impassioned avowal of love.


Act 4

''A gaming salon at the Hôtel de Transylvanie'' Lescaut and Guillot are among the gamblers, and the three young actresses are prepared to attach themselves to any winner. Manon arrives with des Grieux who declares his total love: ("''Manon! Manon! Sphinx étonnant''"). He is persuaded to gamble, in hopes of gaining the wealth she craves. He plays at cards with Guillot and continually wins, as Guillot doubles and redoubles the wager. As Manon exults, Guillot accuses des Grieux of cheating. Des Grieux denies the charge and Guillot leaves, returning shortly with the police, to whom he denounces des Grieux as a cheat and Manon as dissolute. The elder des Grieux enters, and tells his son that, while he will intercede on his behalf, he will do nothing to save Manon. In a big ensemble, with Guillot exulting over his revenge, Manon lamenting the end of all joy, des Grieux swearing to defend her, and the rest expressing consternation and horror, the arrested pair are led away.


Act 5

:[Act 4, Scene 2 in the original version] ''A desolate spot near the road to Le Havre'' Convicted as a woman of ill-fame, Manon has been condemned to be deported. Des Grieux, freed by his father's intervention, and a penitent Lescaut, now his ally, wait to waylay the convoy in which Manon is being marched to the port. A detachment of soldiers arrives with their prisoners. The would-be rescuers recognize the hopelessness of attacking so strong an escort, but Lescaut succeeds in bribing their sergeant to allow Manon to stay behind till evening. The convoy moves on, and a sick and exhausted Manon falls to the ground at des Grieux's feet. In his arms, near delirium, she relives their former happiness. Des Grieux tells her the past can exist again but Manon, now calm, knows that it is too late. With the words "''Et c'est là l'histoire de Manon Lescaut''", she dies.


Noted arias

*Act 1 – Manon: "Je suis encore tout étourdie" ("I am still completely dazed") *Act 2 – des Grieux: "En fermant les yeux" ("Closing my eyes") *Act 2 – Manon: "Adieu, notre petite table" ("Goodbye, our little table") *Act 3 – Manon: "Obéissons quand leur voix appelle" ("Let us obey when their voice calls us") *Act 3 – des Grieux: "Ah, fuyez douce image" ("Ah, flee, sweet image")


Recordings


References

Notes Sources * Bland, Alexander (1981). ''The Royal Ballet: The First 50 Years''. London: Threshold Books. . * James Harding (music writer), Harding, James (1970). ''Massenet.'' London: Dent. . * Amanda Holden (writer), Holden, Amanda, editor (2001). ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam. . * Gustav Kobbé, Kobbé, Gustav (1976). ''The Complete Opera Book''. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, pp. 858–864. . * Hugh Macdonald, Macdonald, Hugh (2001). "Jules Massenet" in Holden 2001, pp. 542-554. * Wolff, Stéphane (1953). ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900–1950)''. Paris: André Bonne
Listings
at WorldCat.


Further reading

* Milton Cross, Cross, Milton (1955). ''The New Milton Cross' Complete Stories of the Great Operas''. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, pp. 353–361
Listings
at WorldCat. * Huebner, Steven (2006). ''French Opera at the Fin de Siècle''. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 45–72. . * George Putnam Upton, Upton, George P.; Felix Borowski, Borowski, Felix (1928). ''The Standard Opera Guide''. New York: Blue Ribbon Books, pp. 179–181. . * John Warrack, Warrack, John; West, Ewan (1992). ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 438. .


External links

*
Full orchestral score
at indiana.edu *Visual documentation of th
premiere
on Gallica
Free Online opera guide on Massenet’s MANON
An opera portrait with synopsis, commentary, music analysis, anecdotes
Manon, opéra comique, 5 acts
1895 publication, digitized by Brigham Young University, BYU on archive.org {{Portal bar, Opera Adaptations of works by Antoine François Prévost Operas by Jules Massenet French-language operas Operas set in France Opéras comiques 1884 operas Operas based on novels Opera world premieres at the Opéra-Comique Operas Belle Époque