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Massenet: Manon -- Paris Opera/Lopez-Cobos
[2001]

Starring: Renée Fleming, Marcelo Álvarez, Jean-Luc Chaignaud, Michel Sénéchal, Alain Vernhes
Director: François Roussillon
Format: Anamorphic Box set PAL Widescreen
Released: 30 Jan 2006
RRP: £29.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

A Night at the Opera - By: F. S. L'hoir, 08 Jul 2008
And a very satisfying one too!

Massenet's music is sublime; the satin-voiced Renee Fleming portrays a charming Manon & Marcelo Alvarez, a convincing Des Grieux (although no one can live up to my childhood memories of seeing the great Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayao & Giuseppe Di Stefano in the leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera). The highlight for me was Alvarez's heart-breaking rendition of "Ah, fuyez, douce image!" as Des Grieux waits to take his vows at Saint Sulpice. The red-haired Fleming is stunning in the title role, but she presents such a picture of health that I had to suspend my disbelief when she is supposed to be dying on the rode to Le Havre. This is partly the fault of the costumer, who dressed her in shiny peacock blue satin (supposed to be the tattered remnants left over from the Hotel de Transylvanie, when she was arrested; because of its sheen, the costume doesn't look quite tattered enough.).

For the most part, William Orlandi's costumes are reminiscent of a Watteau or Fragonard painting, & I suppose it was excusable to conceive the scenes at Cours la Reine in commedia dell'arte Venetian costumes a la Tiepolo. However, I disliked Orlandi's use of scarlet, a color that seems not only anachronistic for a woman in the early 18th century but also rather obvious on a symbolic level, especiallly when Manon doffs her black domino in Saint Sulpice (One would think that Des Grieux might think twice about leaving the church for such a patently scarlet woman!). I also think that that blue is not the most effective choice of color for a woman who is obsessed with gold in the gambling scene (I recalll Sayao wearing gold watered silk reminiscent of the gown worn by Mme. de la Pompadour in Francois Boucher's portrait.). Nevertheless, it is a pleasure to see a production that utilizes traditional costumes instead of "modern" representations that turn up in some productions (One thinks of the flannel nightgowns & pillows for the water nymphs in Roussalka!).

The supporting cast is excellent, particularly Alain Vernhes in what can be the thankless role of the Count Des Grieux, & Michel Senechal as the old roue Guillot de Mortfontaine.

Despite the above reservations, this production is on the whole excellent, & the ending left my cheeks wet with tears.
This Top Opera DVD has a companion - By: Arthur Wyatt, 22 Sep 2007
Bernard Shaw said something like "I would exchange alll of the Brandenburg Concertos for Massenet's Manon & felt I would have profited by the deal". Similarly I would not exhange any of my opera DVDs for this one. It may be no surprise that Thais by the same composer is of the same merit. ( get this too!) Powerful unashamed expressions of pure romantic art. All the positive things other reviewers say is true. Massenet hauntingly beautiful music stays in the memory for always. The composer is the one the French should be the most proud of!
Technicallly perfect DVD
Renée Fleming and Marcelo Álvarez Triumph - By: J Scott Morrison, 22 Nov 2003
So far this is the only 'Manon' to make it to DVD. But you reallly don't have to wait for a better one to come along; it will likely be the one to have for a long time. It comes from a June 2001 performance at the Opéra National National de Paris/Opéra Bastille & stars Renée Fleming as Manon & Marcelo Álvarez as des Grieux.

Fleming says that Manon is one of her favorite roles, & I can believe it. She invests the character with a good deal of feeling, & although she seems a little old & not quite giddy enough to be playing the simple school-girl in Act I, she gets better & better as the action proceeds. Her singing, of course, is nonpareil. Indeed, for me the action doesn't reallly catch fire until the final scene of Act II (although 'Nous vivrons à Paris,' in Act I, is exciting & beautifully sung by the young lovers) when Manon contemplates giving up des Grieux & letting him return to his family, in 'Adieu, notre petite table,' followed by des Grieux's 'En fermant les yeux,' sung gorgeously by Álvarez.

The staging triumphs in the two 'public' scenes--the Cours la Reine scene (Act III, 1) & the gambling scene at the Hotel Transylvanie (Act IV). Each of these scenes is so full of visual stimulation that it might even be easy to miss the main action except for the expert television direction of François Roussilon. The baroque-style balllet (choreography by Ana Yepes, & occurring in the Cours la Reine scene) is an engaging use of the music--a larger group of formal dancers alternating with a trio of solo dancers, each movement fitting Massenet's expert pastiche of 18th-century music perfectly.

The scene (III,1) between the hero's father, Comte des Grieux (sung sympatheticallly by Alain Vernhes) & Manon is touching & sets up the reconciliation (III, 2) at St. Sulpice between the new Abbé des Grieux (whose 'Ah, fuyez douce image' brings tears to one's eyes) & Manon. If only they could have known that being in love & managing one's money often don't go together! The final act when des Grieux is gotten off by his father from charges of cheating but Manon is found guilty & about to be deported is heartbreaking, & again Fleming & Álvarez outdo themselves.

Lescaut is sung & acted effectively by Jean-Luc Chaignaud, de Brétigny by Franck Ferrari. It was wonderful to see the venerable Michel Sénéchal as the old roué, Guillot de Morfontaine; the old rascal can still act up a storm.

The spectacularly talented Jésus Lopez-Cobos led the musical forces brilliantly. I imagine symphony patrons in Cincinnati still mourn his departure from their city. Sets & costumes, brilliantly effective & richly sumptuous, are by William Orlandi. The inventive staging is by Gilbert Deflo.

I will not forget any of the wonderful recorded Manons I've treasured over the years. My first was Janine Micheau in an otherwise dreadful recording from the 50s. I've more recently come to value the 1929 Opéra-Comique recording with Germaine Féraldy (Manon) & Joseph Rogatchewsky (des Grieux), conducted by Elie Cohen. And the still wonderful recording with Beverly Sills & Nicolai Gedda. I missed the one with Alfredo Kraus & Ileana Cotrubas, but more recently liked, although a little less, the Italianate 'Manon' with Gheorghiu & Alagna.

Do not hesitate. This will be the 'Manon' to have for, I expect, years to come. It captures one of Renée Fleming's signature roles & shows off one of our rising tenors, Marcelo Álvarez, in a marvelous performance.

2 DVD discs, TT=164 mins

Scott Morrison

Massenet Opera superbly sung - By: J. Aitken, 09 Oct 2003
Manon from Paris with Renee Fleming & Marcello Alvarez is a dream cast & they & their equallly fine colleagues bring Massenet's opera marvellously to life. The sound in DTS is warm but brilliant & the production simple & effective. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Lets hope Ms Fleming's assumption of Rusalka, also from Paris follows onto DVD.