from Act III, Scene 2 of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Chevalier Des Grieux, a nobleman, son of Count Des Grieux

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: The reception room in St. Sulpice church, France, 18th century

Synopsis: After entering the seminary in order to forget about Manon, Des Grieux finds that he is unable to forget his love for her. He prays to God to remove this shadow from his heart.

from Act II of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Chevalier Des Grieux, a nobleman, son of Count Des Grieux

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: Apartment of Chevalier Des Grieux, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: In order to cheer Manon up, Des Grieux relates to her a dream that he has had. He has dreamed that someday he will own a house surrounded by beautiful flowers and singing birds. However, he realizes that his dream was still drear because it lacks one thing : Manon.

from Act I of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Lescaut, Manon's cousin, Royal Guardsman

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: The courtyard of an inn at Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Lescaut warns his young cousin Manon of the pitfalls of the real world, including the threat she faces from men who would try to take advantage of her.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Lescaut, Manon's cousin, Royal Guardsman

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: A busy square in Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Lescaut is flirting in the crowd. He claims to one girl that the only way he can fully praise her is to climb the heights of Mount Pindus.

from Act II of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Manon Lescaut, a young woman, cousin of Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: Apartment of Chevalier Des Grieux, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon has been told by a nobleman that her love Des Grieux will soon be kidnapped by his father's men in order to get him away from her. She knows that the happy days they have spent in Des Grieux's apartment will soon be at an end and takes the opportunity to bid adieu to the table at which she and her love ate many meals together.

from Act I of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Manon Lescaut, a young woman, cousin of Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The courtyard of an inn at Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon, who has just arrived on her way to a convent, tells her cousin about the journey and the wonderful things she has seen.

from Act III, Scene 1 of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Manon Lescaut, a young woman, cousin of Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: A busy square in Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon appears in the crowd and tells her admirers about her philosophy to live only for the moment, caring not what happens afterwards. After all, there is little time in youth. One should spend it loving, singing, and dancing.

from Act I of the French opera Manon by Jules Massenet

Libretto: Henri Meilhac

Role: Manon Lescaut, a young woman, cousin of Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The courtyard of an inn at Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: After she sees three young beautiful actresses, Manon wonders if she has done the correct thing by deciding to enter a convent. She knows that she must leave her worldly desires behind when she reaches the convent.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux and Manon have decided to run away together, but Manon stops to gather up her jewels, and Des Grieux feels ashamed and betrayed that Manon cannot overcome the desire of wealth.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux has just met Manon and fallen in love with her. Manon leaves when called by her brother, but promises to return. Alone, Des Grieux sings about his feelings for Manon.

from Act III of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square in Le Havre, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon is to be deported to a prison in Louisiana. As she marches by, Des Grieux grabs her and says that no one can take Manon away from him. When the captain of the ship comes to see what the commotion is, Des Grieux begs for mercy and the captain agrees to take him on the ship along with Manon.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux, a student and young nobleman

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: spinto tenor

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux is cynical about love and says he knows nothing about it, so he sings to a group of girls mockingly, asking if any of them can capture his love.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Lescaut, Manon's brother, Sergeant of the King’s Guard

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Manon is seated at her dressing table having her hair and makeup done. Lescaut enters and tells Manon how beautiful she is.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Remembering Des Grieux’s love, Manon is not sure she made the right decision to live with Geronte. Even with the luxury she has, there is something that chills her soul.

from Act II of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Geronte’s house, Paris, France, 18th century

Synopsis: After dancing a minuet with Geronte, Manon sings a song about the joy of the shepherdess when her true love comes to her.

from Act IV of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: Near New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 18th century

Synopsis: Des Grieux has gone to look for water, leaving Manon "alone, lost, and abbandoned," as she sings that she does not want to die.

from Act I of the Italian opera Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto: Marco Praga

Role: Manon Lescaut

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: spinto soprano

Setting: a square near the Paris gate, Amiens, France, 18th century

Synopsis: Returning to meet Des Grieux, Manon says she has kept her word, but maybe it would have been better if they had not met.