Search - Auber, Mesple, Marty :: Manon Lescaut

Delightful

02/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before Massenet and Puccini there was Auber's Manon Lescaut

it is a charming work not as complex as the former nor intense

as the latter but poetic and elegant capturing the spirit of

18th century France very well. It is a typical opéra-comique

with musical numbers and spoken-dialogues (very well done by

the singers themselves). In this version Manon comes accross

as a frivolous but kind-hearted girl caught up in intrigue

despite herself - it is delightfully interpreted by Mady Mes-

plé - the archetype of the light french coloratura soprano.

She is very well partnered by an excellent and idiomatic cast

entirely french including chorus/orchestra/conductor. Well

recorded this release comes on two super-bargain CDs with a

synopsis and small essay on the opera and composer in both

french and english.

"