A modern take on the Manon Lescaut story in Hans Werner Henze's first opera, newly staged by Nikolaus Lehnhoffforthe Royal Opera House. German soprano Alexandra von der Weth, acclaimed as Manon in Massenet's famous opera, and Swedish tenor Par Lindskog make their Covent Garden debuts as the good-time girl and the young Armand des Grieux, whose on-off relationship leads to the inevitable unhappy ending. Under the thumb of her streetwise dropout brother Lescaut - who is also her pimp - Henze's Manon murders her ageing sugar-daddy Lilaque while Armand snorts cocaine peddled by Lescaut. Presented by Chris de Souza in conversation with the singers and the production team.
Henze Boulevard Solitude
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conductor Bernhard Kontarsky