Ninety years after its 1893 premiere in Turin, the work was staged by the Royal Opera House. The 1983 production was conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli, making his British operatic debut to such remarkable effect that The Times referred to him as ‘Europe’s most spectacular new opera star’. The cast included three of the greatest exponents of their roles; Plácido Domingo as the romantic hero whose performance ‘was a cause for drop-jawed wonder’ (The Spectator), the radiant Kiri Te Kanawa as Manon and Thomas Allen as her brother, Lescaut. Director Götz Friedrich’s largely traditional staging proved a major theatrical success.
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Edmondo - Robin Leggate
The Innkeeper - George MacPherson
Chevalier des Grieux - Plácido Domingo
Lescaut - Thomas Allen
Manon Lescaut - Kiri Te Kanawa
Geronte di Ravoir - Forbes Robinson
Madrigal Singer - Anna Cooper
Dancing Master - John Fryatt
Sergeant of Archers - Handel Thomas
Lamplighter - Mark Curtis
Sergeant - Paschal Allen
A Naval Captain - Roderick Earle
Royal Opera House Chorus
Chorus Master: John McCarthy
Royal Opera House Orchestra
Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
Director: Götz Friedrich
Stes: Günter Schneider-Siemssen
Costumes: Aliute Meczies
Lighting: Robert Bryan
Choreography: Romayne Grigorova
Recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 17 May 1983
Picture: NTSC 4:3
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, IT, SP, JA
Running time: 128 mins