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A quick overview of Puccini’s 1893 historical opera.

Premiered

1893

Music by

Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by

Luigi Illica, Marco Praga
and Domenico Oliva

Language

Italian

Puccini was a little-known and destitute composer with only two operas to his credit—neither of them particularly successful—when he chose the Abbé Prévost’s famous novel as his next subject.

Although the work had already enjoyed considerable reknown on the opera stage as Jules Massenet’s 1884 masterpiece, Manon, Puccini was convinced that he had finally found a story and characters suited to his own particular strengths, famously declaring that while “[Massenet] feels the subject as a Frenchman, with the powder and the minuets, I shall feel it as an Italian, with desperate passion.” He was correct.

Working with no less than six successive librettists over a three-year period, Puccini consciously avoided duplication of Manon’s scenes (as much as possible), resulting in a more succinct, episodic and dramatic work.

Upon its 1893 premiere, Manon Lescaut was hailed as a critical and popular success, and quickly taken up by opera houses throughout the world. The royalties from Manon Lescaut brought him enormous wealth, and Puccini continued his success with La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly.

Act I

An Inn outside of Amiens. The late 1770s, a few years before the French Revolution.

Young students and the staff of the Inn entertain themselves. The stagecoach arrives from Arras, among the passengers are Geronte de Revoir, who is the king’s ancient but incredibly wealthy tax collector, and the lovely young Manon Lescaut, accompanied by her card-sharp brother, Lescaut. A young writer, Renato Des Grieux, falls instantly in love with the girl. When they are momentarily left alone, he engages her in conversation and learns that she is to be locked up in a convent the next day by her father.

Meanwhile, Des Grieux’s friend Edmondo learns that the old Geronte, equally smitten, is planning to kidnap Manon and take her away to Paris with him. After declaring his love for her, Des Grieux persuades Manon to run away with him instead, and they hastily elope in the coach ordered by Geronte. When Geronte finds out, Lescaut convinces him that his sister, whom he believes will not long stand a life of poverty, will soon tire of life with the impoverished young writer and will then happily accept the protection of the wealthy old man.

Act III

The port of Le Havre.

Manon is imprisoned near the port of Le Havre, waiting to be shipped off to a penal colony in Louisiana with other prostitutes. Lescaut and Des Grieux plot an escape for Manon. But, once it becomes clear that they are not going to be successful, Des Grieux desperately begs to be allowed on board. Moved, the captain agrees, and the lovers are together deported to America.

Act IV

America: A desert

The lovers have escaped New Orleans but are now lost in a desert wilderness. Manon is near death and unable to go any further. Des Grieux tries to find some water for her, and Manon reflects on her life and its failures. When her beloved returns, she finally realizes that there is nothing in her life of any worth, except for her love of Des Grieux. She says her final goodbye and dies in his arms.

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Vespasiano Bignami (1841-1929), Postcard taken from the poster from the premiere of Manon Lescaut, 1893. []

Presented by Washington National Opera, host Saul Lilienstein takes you through the musical world of Puccini’s 1893 historical opera, Manon Lescaut.

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