Great Britain

A Covent Garden Video Production for
The National Video Corporation Limited

The Royal Opera
Music Director Sir Colin Davis
Manon Lescaut
by Giacomo Puccini
(Property of G. Ricordi & Co.)

"Manon," wrote Puccini to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, in 1889, "is a heroine I believe in, and therefore she cannot fail to win the heart of the public." The premiere in Turin four years later vindicated the composer's conviction. Manon Lescaut was received with an acclaim such as none of Puccini's later world successes achieved at their first nights.
In this staging by the eminent German producer, Götz Friedrich, Kiri te Kanawa sings the title role for the first time. Placido Domingo as Des Grieux and Thomas Allen as Lescaut are also in an exceptionally strong cast under the young Italian conductor, Giuseppe Sinopoli.