Manon

By Jules Massenet
Sung in French with English surtitles

Massenet's Manon is a story of passionate, desperate, doomed but immortal love - pitching affairs of the heart against the desire and pursuit of material pleasures. Hypocrisy and corruption underlie the elegant façade of eighteenth-century Parisian society in which two lovers come together, abandon one another and then reunite, eventually bringing about their mutual destruction.

Manon Lescaut, an innocent country girl, and Chevalier des Grieux, a French nobleman, fall in love. Eloping to Paris they experience true love and happiness, but also poverty. Tempted by luxury and pleasure, Manon is enticed into a life of indulgence with a rich, older man. We are offered the hope that she might choose to return to loving des Grieux unselfishly, but fate intervenes.

A vivacious, robust and earthy production from English National Opera, Massenet's suave and sensuous melodies give Manon a well-deserved reputation as being his masterpiece. Set in an arena, Manon's rise and fall take place in public, where cast, chorus and audience become spectators, commentators and participants in her life's choices, desires and eventual demise.

This production is a presentation of an original production by English National Opera.

" … the best new production I have seen at English National Opera since 1993 … don't miss it" - The Telegraph, London

" ... an absolutely marvellous show." - The Times, London

Featured Cast

with

The Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Auckland Philharmonia (Auckland)
Wellington Sinfonia (Wellington)

The management reserves the right to make alterations to the cast due to unavoidable circumstances

Dates: