Description

Jules Massenet's Manon 2 DVD Set

UPC: 0807280700398

Product Features

Title: Manon by Jules Massenet
Conductor: Jesús López-Cobos
Stage Director: Gilbert Deflo
Set and Costume Design: William Orlandi
Lighting Design: Joël Hourbeigt
Choreography: Anna Yepes
Music Advisor: Janine Reiss
Performers:Orchestra and Choirs: Opéra national de Paris
- Manon Lescaut: Renée Fleming
- Le Chevalier Des Grieux: Marcelo Álvarez
- Lescaut: Jean-Luc Chaignaud
- Le Comte Des Grieux: Alain Vernhes
- Guillot de Morfontaine: Michel Sénéchal
- Monsieur de Brétigny: Franck Ferrari
- Poussette: Jaël Azzaretti
- Javotte: Isabelle Cals
- Rosette: Delphine Haidan
- L'hotelier: Christophe Fel
- Deux gardes: Josep Miquel Ribot, Nigel Smith
- La servante: Sandrine Seubille
Format: 2 DVDs (NTSC, Region Code: 0)
Language: French with subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese
Sound: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Picture Format: 16:9
Running Time: 164 minutes
Publisher: Arthaus Musik
Release Year: 2000
Special Features: Live performance from the Opéra national de Paris, recorded in 2001

Overview

Jules Massenet's Manon is a richly emotional and musically captivating opera that tells the story of the tragic romance between Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier Des Grieux. This production, captured live at the Opéra national de Paris in 2001, stars the internationally renowned soprano Renée Fleming in the title role, alongside Marcelo Álvarez as Des Grieux. Under the baton of Jesús López-Cobos, the Orchestra and Choirs of the Opéra national de Paris deliver a performance that brings out the lush orchestration and poignant melodies of Massenet’s score.

Directed by Gilbert Deflo, the staging combines elegance and drama, with beautifully crafted sets and costumes by William Orlandi that evoke the opulence of 18th-century France. The opera’s exploration of love, passion, and downfall is brought to life by a stellar cast, making this DVD a must-have for opera lovers.

Interesting Facts

Manon is one of Massenet's most popular operas, based on the 1731 novel The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost.
Renée Fleming’s portrayal of Manon is particularly celebrated for her vocal beauty and expressive depth, capturing the character’s innocence, charm, and eventual despair.
The opera includes some of Massenet’s most famous arias, such as "Adieu, notre petite table" and "En fermant les yeux," which showcase the composer’s gift for lyrical expression.
This production at the Opéra Bastille was praised for its strong ensemble cast and the detailed, period-accurate set and costume design that enhances the storytelling.