Manon Lescaut

"Manon." wrote Puccini to his publisher, Giulo 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 yrs later vindicated the composer's conviction. Manon Lescaut was recieved with acclaim such as none of Puccini's later world successes achieved at their first nights. I this staging by the eminent German producer, Gotz Fredrich, Kiri te Kanawa sings the title role of 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.