Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut
(Highlights).
Mirella Freni (soprano) Manon
Lescaut; Renato Bruson (baritone) Lescaut; Plácido Domingo (tenor)
Des Grieux; Kurt Rydl (bass) Geronte; Robert Gambill (tenor) Edmund; Mark
Curtis (tenor) Lamplighter; John Tomlinson (bass) Naval Captain; Paschal
Allen (bass) Sergeant; Royal Opera House Chorus; Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe
Sinopoli.
DG Classikon 469 589-2
[DDD]
[66'15]
Crotchet
Sinopoli's early reputation in this country as a champion of the avant-garde
was soon tempered by his forays into the Romantic repertoire when he cemented
his association with the Philharmonia Orchestra. This Manon Lescaut
demonstrates why, on occasion, Sinopoli's deconstructionist approach can
be so telling. Orchestral textures that are often undifferentiated in an
attempt at a Puccinian saturation point are here cleanly and clearly presented.
The Philharmonia Orchestra seems completely behind Sinopoli's philosophy
and gives its all for him - as do the cast.
Domingo is in honeyed voice for Tra voi, belle, brune e bionde and
his ability to sustain a long legato line is heard in the outpouring of Act
One's Donna non vidi mai. Mirella Freni also seems to be on top form:
she is searching in the final excerpt, Sola, perduta, abbandonata
and laudably refrains from any vocal scooping in the extended duet excerpt
from Act Two, O sarò più bella! … Tu, tu, amore? Tu?.
In fact, all of the parts are well allocated, including Robert Gambill's
pleasurable Ave, sera gentile (which opens the disc and which
unfortunately suffers from the recording balance placing him too far back).
Throughout, the orchestra is sublime.
A word about presentation, however. The Chorus of the Royal Opera House is
not credited at all, despite several excellent contributions to these excerpts.
The heading to the plot synopsis (no extra notes are offered) misspells the
opera's title as 'Manon Lescuat'. Some care in this department would not
have gone amiss.
This disc functions as an excellent introduction to the opera and may even
provide the impetus to go out and buy a complete set. For that, the recent
live La Scala recording on DG with Cura as Des Grieux and Muti conducting
(463 186-2) might just fit the bill.
Reviewer
Colin Clarke
Performance
Recording
