Search - Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Philharmonia Orchestra of London :: Giacomo Puccini: Manon Lescaut

Not perfect yet, but still the best

Benjamin | Chicago, IL USA | 10/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are not many Manon Lescaut good recordings available. Among those, only Levine (DECCA 92) and Serafin (EMI 57) get close to this one, which is arguably the best of them all. Technically perfect, Bruson's Lescaut is the best of the discography. First, his voice is of a great quality, and he uses it with experience and fantasy. You will barely hear such a perfect 'Sei splendida e lucente' like here, and few times you will ever listen to the phrasing of third act so perfectly sung like here, so precisely and with perfect accentuation. Freni and Domingo may not be the perfect couple, but each of them, in their own way, show very attractive approaches to their roles. Freni's sensuality and lirycism relates very well to the Manon of the first two acts. Also, her voice has no limits, and she actually makes no mistakes at all. However, in acts 3 and 4, we miss some tension, more depth of communication. Everything is very well put together, but her role has deeper meanings, as Calas, Olivero or Kabaivanska, other sopranos who interpreted this role, showed. Domingo is well known around the world because his Des Grieux role, joyful at the beginning, desperate at the end. His high pitch, one of Domingo's best qualities, is perfectly used in here. However, he lacks the sincere fire of Björling or Rucker. Sinopoli conducts in detail a very difficult music like this Puccini's opera, showing some genius moments. The orchestra sometimes is too much over the singers, but is overall a very well companion.

By the way, this $85 is an Import CD. I can't find it right now, but a couple of weeks ago I found the same recording here on Amazon for $25. Nobody should spend $85 for a double CD that can be found for a regular price ... In the meantime, you can use the link on top right that says Used and New. While I am writing this review, you can get it new for $27.

Bottomline: This is the best Manon Lescaut recording available, despite some weaknesses. Thanks for reading!

P.S. If you find my review helpful, vote YES (It does not mean you agree. It just means you found it helpful). You can read all my other reviews if you wish to. I modestly write them to help people form an opinion about movies, music and books, but if nobody reads them (if you don't vote I do not know if you did) there is no point in writing them."

A wonderful Manon Lescaut......get it while you still can!

S. Bernard | Mesa, AZ | 06/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recordings are not issued forever (unfortunately) so when you see one you like, my advice is to get it. I was here on amazon not very long ago & this recording wasn't even available.



Freni is in top form here as Manon. She sounds yummy & sumptuous. Yet she is also desparate & impassioned in the final acts. She has another ML available, but this one is better for a couple of reasons.



Domingo is an ardent Des Grieux- even though his top notes sound forced & pinched at times. Overall, he sounds as good as he ever did in this recording and there is no doubting his sincere committment to the role.



Renato Bruson is perfect as Manon's brother. His voice is like molten chocolate! :) In the scene after her 2nd act aria where he has a duet with Freni, the singing is wonderful! You feel his concern for his sister & her situation. You can feel her love for Des Grieux. They are believable & they sound great together.



Giuseppe Sinopoli has long been criticized with his irregular conducting tempi. Well, he's right on the money in this one. This is almost a Karajan-like performance of conducting. The orchestra, not a back seat player here, but a vital part of the music- as it should be. The Intermezzo here is the best & most passionate I've ever heard.



Get it while you still can. This is a wonderful version of Puccini's passionate Manon Lescaut. You'll be swept away with the singing & conducting- the best ML I've ever heard."

The Number One Manon Lescaut Recording

S. Bernard | 02/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This early 80's recording from Deutsche Grammophone dare never get out of print. It is by far the most dramatic and powerfully moving version of Puccini's first operatic masterpiece Manon Lescaut. It stars Placido Domingo, Mirella Freni, Renato Bruson, Kurt Rydl and in the lesser role of a musician Brigitte Fasbaender. The New Philharmonia is conducted by Sinopoli. First of all, this is a very beautiful and dramatic opera, and the cast is first-rate, singing their respective parts with unrivaled technical mastership and dramatic abilities. Placido Domingo and Mirella Freni as the lovers Manon and Des Grieux suffuse their singing with a measure of beautiful Puccini lyricism and verisimo power. They give strong performances and to me, they never falter. There is an earlier recording of Manon Lescaut in which Freni is paired with Pavarotti, the more constant tenor-soprano pair. But this recording far outshines that one because Domingo and Freni are in better shape and give it their all. By the finale, I was in tears. Domingo is passionate, tormented and Freni is dramatic, full of despair. Their voices escalate to such an unbelievable height of glory it's breathtaking. If you're a fan of Mirella Freni and Placido Domingo, this is by far their best collaboration."