“Manon is Kiri’s Best” This opera made me a big fan of opera.If you watch this,you will sure be the one. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is the best soprano I’ve ever known and she and Domingo are the best opera couple. I’ve watched this opera again and again,so the LD has already worn out. I’ve got to have it again.
Product Description 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 “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 G?tz 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. |
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Fantastic!  This video is absolutely wonderful! Placido Domingo is the all-round, brilliant Des Grieux, Thomas Allen is your perfect Lescaut – cheeky and fun. Kiri Te Kanawa is wonderful as Manon – despite a head cold, she sings beautifully, and she goes through all of Manon’s emotions in the space of two hours! From a frightened young girl, to a proud aristocrat, to a pathetic, dying woman, all to utter perfection! It’s the most incredible production. BUY IT!… Excellent Performance Manon – the best Buy it! You will NOT regret it!… |
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1 Comment until now
Perfect Puccini!
I was so thrilled to see this 83 production of Manon Lescaut has been re-released. It’s criminal that it hasn’t been re-released before this!<p>This is my favourite production of Manon. Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role plays Manon to perfection, the confused girl in Act One, the mistress who’s wealth has gone to her head in Act Two, and the pathetic, unhappy girl in Act Three and Four. Kiri goes through so many emotions in just two hours, and by the end you even feel sorry for this mislead, selfish girl. Her voice suits the part wonderfully. Domingo is a wonderful Des Griuex, his voice is like velvet, and his acting is faultless. And of course, there is the usual chemistry between these two superstars. Thomas Allen is the convincing Lescaut, and Geronte is like nails down a black board! Perfect production – BUY IT or you’re missing out on the best production of Manon available!
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