In May 2007, Teatro Massimo di Palermo presented Jules Massenet’s Manon in six staged performances (20–27 May) conducted by Michel Plasson. Piero Terranova appeared as Monsieur de Brétigny in a production by Alberto Fassini, revived by Joseph Franconi Lee, alongside Nathalie Manfrino/Lyubov Petrova (Manon) and Marc Laho/Valter Borin (Chevalier des Grieux).
Opera • Jules Massenet
Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Palermo (Italy) • 20–27 May 2007 • 6 performances
About the Opera.
Premiered in 1884, Massenet’s Manon (libretto by Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after Abbé Prévost)
is a pillar of French lyric theatre. It follows Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier des Grieux—from their headlong elopement
to Parisian salons and the gambling hells of Cours-la-Reine—toward a tragic end on the road to Le Havre. Lush, dance-inflected
writing and character-driven arias (e.g., “Adieu, notre petite table,” “En ferment les yeux”) showcase Massenet’s distinctive
blend of elegance and psychological nuance.
Performance Summary.
In May 2007, Teatro Massimo di Palermo mounted Manon in a six-performance run under Michel Plasson.
Stage direction by Alberto Fassini (revival: Joseph Franconi Lee); set design by
Pier Luigi Samaritani; lighting by Bruno Ciulli; chorus preparation by
Miguel Fabián Martínez; assistant conductor Franck Villard. Baritone
Piero Terranova appeared as Monsieur de Brétigny, with principal roles shared by
Nathalie Manfrino / Lyubov Petrova (Manon) and Marc Laho / Valter Borin (Des Grieux).
Production Details
| Date(s) |
20–27 May 2007 |
| Performances |
6 |
| Venue |
Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Palermo, Italy |
| Work |
Manon |
| Composer |
Jules Massenet |
| Librettists |
Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille |
| Conductor |
Michel Plasson |
| Stage directors |
Alberto Fassini; revival by Joseph Franconi Lee |
| Set designer |
Pier Luigi Samaritani |
| Lighting designer |
Bruno Ciulli |
| Chorusmaster |
Miguel Fabián Martínez |
| Assistant Conductor |
Franck Villard |
| Orchestra |
Orchestra del Teatro Massimo di Palermo |
| Chorus |
Coro del Teatro Massimo di Palermo |
| Piero Terranova |
Monsieur de Brétigny |
Cast
- Manon Lescaut — Nathalie Manfrino / Lyubov Petrova
- Le Chevalier des Grieux — Marc Laho / Valter Borin
- Lescaut — Davide Damiani / Vincenzo Taormina
- Le Comte des Grieux — Alain Vernhes / Andrea Papi
- Guillot de Morfontaine — Rodolphe Briand / Alessandro Cosentino
- Monsieur de Brétigny — Piero Terranova
- L’Hôtelier — Giovanni Bellavia
- Poussette — Gabriella Costa
- Javotte — Stefanna Kybalova
- Rosette — Alessia Sparacio
- La Servante — Pinuccia Passarello
Comprimari & Ensemble
- Gardes / Porters / Gamblers (selected) — Giuseppe Conte; Mariano Gottuso; Alessandro Cosentino; Luca Polizzi; Filippo Luna; Pietro Massaro; Antonio Silvia
- Marchands — Mariella Maisano; Francesca Martorana; Giacomo Patti; Luca Polizzi
- Marchand d’élixir — Vincenzo Monteleone / Carlo Morgante
- Un cuisinier — Pietro Luppina
- Marchand de chansons — Cosimo Diano / Riccardo Schirò
- Le Portier du Séminaire — Pietro Massaro
- Un sergent — Antonio Silvia
- Un joueur — Pietro Massaro / Antonio Silvia
- Croupier — Filippo Luna
Performance Dates
- Sun 20 May 2007
- Wed 23 May 2007
- Thu 24 May 2007
- Fri 25 May 2007
- Sat 26 May 2007
- Sun 27 May 2007
Notes
- Double casts for Manon/des Grieux across the run.
- Revival staging credited to Joseph Franconi Lee.
