WBO
50th Season
2005–2006
Manon Lescaut
Music by Giacomo Puccini
after Abbé Prévost’s Histoire de Manon Lescaut
          

Line

Music Director: Matthias Kuntzsch, Stage Director: David Ostwald
Set Design: Peter Crompton, Costume Design: Callie Floor, Lighting Design: Robert Ted Anderson

Line

Act I

Act1 Students and townspeople gather in the Town Square of Amiens.
Town Edmondo (Brian Thorsett) sings a toast to youth and dreams.
Lescaut Manon’s brother (Daniel Cilli) is drawn to the gambling tables.
Bouquet The Chevalier des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) presents a bouquet to Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder).
Edmondo (Brian Thorsett) overhears Geronte di Ravoir (John Burton) bribing the innkeeper (Eric Wenburg) to bring his carriage around so that he can abduct Manon.
Pair After Manon flees with Des Grieux, Lescaut (Daniel Cilli) reassures Geronte (John Burton) that Manon will soon tire of living on a poor student’s purse.

Act II

Temptress Assisted by her hairdresser (Greg Anderson), Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) selects the perfect beauty mark—“The Temptress.”
Ensemble Lescaut (Daniel Cilli) admires Manon’s (Olga Chernisheva) ensemble and declares it is her destiny to live in Geronte’s splendid rooms.
Manon Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) admits that though she adores living in this gilded alcove, she misses Des Grieux’s ardent kisses.
News Lescaut (Daniel Cilli) tells Manon (Olga Chernisheva) that Des Grieux has started gambling in order to win enough money to convince Manon to return to him.
Madrigal Manon (Olga Chernisheva) listens to a madrigal singer (Amy Bouchard) singing a madrigal composed by Geronte.
News

 

As the orchestra arrives, Lescaut (Igor Vieira) tells Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) he is off to see Des Grieux.

Gifts Geronte (John Burton) arrives with his guests who present gifts to Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder).
Dancing

The Dancing Master (Piet Van Allen) arrives to advise Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) on the proper way to hold her body while dancing.

Goddess Geronte (John Burton) declares that Manon (Olga Chernisheva) drives him wild with desire.
Manon Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) asks Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) to forgive her for deserting him.
Duet Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) and Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) reaffirm their love.
Trio Geronte (John Burton) returns and confronts Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) who declares she is destined for happiness with Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos).
Delayed Delayed by Manon’s reluctance to leave her jewels behind, Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) and Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) are surprised by the soldiers sent by Geronte to arrest Manon.
Arrested Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) and Lescaut (Igor Vieira) are unable to prevent the Sergeant (John Dalton Frederick) and his soldiers from taking Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) to prison.

Act III

Prison Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) tries to comfort Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) through the prison bars.
Act3

The Sergeant (John Dalton Fredrick) announces tha names of the women being deported, including Manon (Paula GoodmanWilder) being comforted by Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos).

Deported Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) pleads with the Captain (Eric Wenburg) to take him aboard as Cabin Boy so that he can be deported with Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder).

Act IV

Desolation Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) and Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) find themselves in a vast arid plain.
Act4 Manon (Paula Goodman Wilder) and Des Grieux (Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos) bemoan their fate.
Collapse Weakened by prison life and dehydration, Manon (Olga Chernisheva) collapses and is supported by Des Grieux (Percy Martinez).
Death As she dies, Manon (Olga Chernisheva) tells Des Grieux (Percy Martinez) that her faults perish with her, but her love will never die.
Line Line