Giacomo Puccini is a hit machine in the world of grand opera: “Madama Butterfly,” “Tosca” and La Boheme” are among the most produced and popular operas on the planet.
But his first success was “Manon Lescaut,” a gritty slice-of-life opera with the composer’s trademark romantic melodies, big arias and passionate duets that would mark his later operas.
Seattle Opera presents eight performances of “Manon” beginning Saturday at McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center. The opera was last performed here in 1981.
Soprano Carol Vaness, a Metropolitan Opera star and a favorite with Seattle audiences thanks to a string of performances that date back two decades, sings the title role of Manon Lescaut, a doomed woman whose trouble with men leads to betrayal, exile and a tragic end.
Her tortured lover Chevalier des Grieux is sung by tenor Jay Hunter Morris, who sang the role of Pinkerton in the company’s 2002 production of “Madama Butterfly.”
These two meaty roles require voices with sufficient heft and drama to handle Puccini’s heavy orchestration, and beauty of tone to sing his challenging melodies.
The singers in the alternative cast performances are soprano Victoria Litherland and tenor Ted Lee, both of whom make their Seattle Opera debuts as Manon and Des Grieux.
“Manon” is written in the “verismo” style, a documentary approach to the tragic story of Manon Lescaut, a beautiful young woman who is being escorted to a convent by her brother Lescaut (American baritone Earle Patriarco).
A chance meeting with the handsome but poor Des Grieux is literally a case of love at first sight and Manon decides to abandon the convent for a life of love, following Des Grieux to Paris.
Once in Paris she is lured away by the wealthy Geronte de Ravior (sung by American bass Arthur Woodley), who offers her a life of luxury in a fine mansion and with fine clothes. The catch is that this is a marriage without love.
Manon still loves the penniless Des Grieux, and when he appears before her, she pours out her love for him. The lovers are found out and are exiled to colonial America, where things end badly.
The conductor is Italian Antonello Allemandi, a veteran of five Seattle Opera productions including two Puccini operas. Paris-born Bernard Uzan, another company veteran, is the stage director.
The scenery and costumes, from L’Opera de Montreal, recreate the powdered-wig opulence of 18th century France, the setting of the novel from which this opera is taken.
“Manon Lecaut” is sung in Italian with English captions, and performances continue through Jan. 29.
Encore: Seattle’s Benaroya Hall plays host to more music from the world of opera in two concerts hosted by the Seattle Symphony.
“An Enchanted Opera Evening,” at 7 tonight, is a performance of some of the world’s best-loved operatic highlights – arias from Massenet’s “Le Cid,” Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” Bizet’s “Carmen,” Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci,” Puccini’s “Edgar” and “Madama Butterfly” among other selections.
Christian Knapp conducts the orchestra and the soloists are soprano Latonia Moore and tenor Vinson Cole. Moore is a Houston native at the beginning of a major opera career and Cole, from Seattle, is a frequent performer with Seattle Opera.
Tuesday brings the world’s reigning opera diva to Benaroya for an evening recital. Golden-voiced soprano Renee Fleming will perform songs and arias by Handel, Schumann, Berg, Andre Previn, John Kander and Carlisle Floyd and others. Her accompanist is Harmut Holl.
The scenery and costumes for Seattle Opera’s production of “Manon Lecaut” come from L’Opera de Montreal.
Where to hear it
“Manon Lescaut”: Seattle Opera production of the Puccini opera Saturday through Jan. 29 at McCaw Hall, Seattle Center. In Italian with English captions. $40-$123, 206-389-7676, 800-426-1619, www.seattleopera.org.
“An Enchanted Opera Evening”: 7 tonight, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. $6-$61, 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org.
Renee Fleming in recital: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Benaroya Hall. $30-$95, 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org.
Where to hear it
“Manon Lescaut”: Seattle Opera production of the Puccini opera Saturday through Jan. 29 at McCaw Hall, Seattle Center. In Italian with English captions. $40-$123, 206-389-7676, 800-426-1619, www.seattleopera.org.
“An Enchanted Opera Evening”: 7 tonight, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. $6-$61, 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony. org.
Renee Fleming in recital: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Benaroya Hall. $30-$95, 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony. org.
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