from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux and Manon have decided to run away together, but Manon stops to gather up her jewels, and Des Grieux feels ashamed and betrayed that Manon cannot overcome the desire of wealth.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux has just met Manon and fallen in love with her. Manon leaves when called by her brother, but promises to return. Alone, Des Grieux sings about his feelings for Manon.

from Act III of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square in Le Havre, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon is to be deported to a prison in Louisiana. As she marches by, Des Grieux grabs her and says that no one can take Manon away from him. When the captain of the ship comes to see what the commotion is, Des Grieux begs for mercy and the captain agrees to take him on the ship along with Manon.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux is cynical about love and says he knows nothing about it, so he sings to a group of girls mockingly, asking if any of them can capture his love.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Lescaut, Manon's brother, Sergeant of the King’s Guard

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon is seated at her dressing table having her hair and makeup done. Lescaut enters and tells Manon how beautiful she is.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Remembering Des Grieux’s love, Manon is not sure she made the right decision to live with Geronte. Even with the luxury she has, there is something that chills her soul.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: After dancing a minuet with Geronte, Manon sings a song about the joy of the shepherdess when her true love comes to her.

from Act IV of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Near New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux has gone to look for water, leaving Manon "alone, lost, and abbandoned," as she sings that she does not want to die.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Returning to meet Des Grieux, Manon says she has kept her word, but maybe it would have been better if they had not met.