Opera in four acts
Libretto by LEONCAVALLO, PRAGA. OLIVA, ILLICA and GIACOSA, after the novel by ABBÉ PRÉVOST Music by Puccini (sung in Italian) direct from the New Theatre, Cardiff
' How I love her! My passion is so strong that I feel I am the most unhappy creature alive.... And I will follow her! who says: ' The role of Manon Lescaut is difficult because she is so capricious, unlike the heroines in Puccini's later operas.'
WELSH NATIONAL OPERA CHORUS chorus-master JULIAN SMITH
WELSH PHILHARMONIA leader JOHN STEIN conducted by RICHARD ARMSTRONG Producer JULIAN HOPE
8.5* Julian Smith discusses Puccini's difficulties in arriving at a definitive version of the opera.