Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Italiano | LinearPCM, 2 ch | Dolby AC3, 6 ch | DTS, 6 ch | 7.27 Gb (DVD9) | 134 min
Classical | TDK | Sub.: English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, Italiano
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Italiano | LinearPCM, 2 ch | Dolby AC3, 6 ch | DTS, 6 ch | 7.27 Gb (DVD9) | 134 min
Classical | TDK | Sub.: English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, Italiano
Maria Guleghina impresses strongly. To my mind she is Puccini’s ideal ‘tart with a heart for gold’. She has control and sensitivity and she acts everybody off the stage. She’s coy (but with just a hint of being street-wise) in Act I, outrageously flighty and avaricious in Act II, and, at last, contrite in Act IV. Just watch her as she taunts Geronte di Ravoir (a far too gentlemanly Luigi Roni) in Act II and the way she disports herself on the floor of the stage to seduce Des Grieux back to her charms. What a pity the wardrobe department could not have served her with more flattering costumes – and that wig! José Cura, as Des Grieux, is in fine voice, colourful and ardent – I just wish he could have been that bit more furious with Manon in his Act II entrance. But his singing with Guleghina (their voices blending so well) ravishes the ear especially in their tempestuous Act II duets and in the intensity of their Act IV duet as Manon dies in the arms of a distraught Des Grieux. Lucio Gallo convinces as Lescaut the scoundrel on the make, strutting and scheming.
The La Scala Chorus are excellent and the stage directions give them every chance to be lively and animated. Throughout Muti supplies a beautiful, romantic, detailed orchestral backdrop. (Ian Lace)
Cast:
Manon Lescaut - Maria Guleghina
Lescaut - Lucio Gallo
Il Cavaliere Renato Des Grieux - José Cura
Geronte di Ravoir - Luigi Roni
Edmondo - Marco Berti
L'oste - Orazio Mori
Il maestro di balo - Mario Bolognesi
Un musico - Gloria Banditelli
Un lampionaio - Ernesto Gavazzi
Un sergente degli arceri - Aldo Bramante
Un sergente - Silvestro Sammaritano
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Conductor - Riccardo Muti
Directed by Liliana Cavani
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2005/1998)
