Organization

Singer

Soprano

Anna Netrebko

Manon Lescaut

Tenor

Rolando Villazón

Chevalier des Grieux

Baritone

Alfredo Daza

Lescaut

Bass

Christof Fischesser

Count des Grieux

Rémy Corazza

Guillot de Morfontaine

Arttu Kataja

Monsieur de Brétigny

Hanan Alattar

Poussette

Mezzo-soprano

Gal James

Javotte

Silvia De La Muela

Rosette

Matthias Vieweg

The Innkeeper

Conductor

Daniel Barenboim

Julien Salemkour

Patrick Fournillier

Stage director

Vincent Paterson

Set designer

Johannes Leiacker

Costume designer

Susan Hilferty

Lighting designer

Duane Schuler

Chorus master

Eberhard Friedrich

Dramaturge

Francis Hüsers

State Opera Berlin

French

Manon

Berlin

Germany

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Apollo-Saal

From the "dream team" of the opera stage to the "dream team" of classic and pop - Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón have long since conquered the entire music world. But although her CD "Duets" was number three in the pop charts, the opera stage remains her favorite place. And in Jules Massenet's "Manon," they've found a drama worthy of their shared talents.
Manon, the tragic heroine of Massenet's work, is torn between flirtation and deep love, between frivolity and deep devotion. Netrebko seems predestined for this role, because her body language alternates between girlish, introspective and carefree, while her voice exudes brilliance, warmth, mystery and longing. As the impoverished young noble Des Grieux, Rolando Villazón, with his fiery, lithe, slender tenor voice, impressively portrays the burning passion of an ultimately doomed lover.
The glitzy production's Hollywood touch is thanks to director Vincent Paterson, who makes his operatic debut with Manon. Paterson knows what stars want: he worked his way up from dancer to music video clip director and internationally renowned choreographer, having worked with Madonna, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney and directing several Broadway musicals. He also worked on films such as "Dancer in the Dark", "Evita" and "The Birdcage". Paterson sees "Manon" as a cinematic story for the opera stage, and Massenet's colorful music as a kind of film soundtrack.
That's why he clearly focused on glamour. "Barenboim brings color to the appealing melodies and is fine-tuned to the emotional fragility they express." (Süddeutsche Zeitung) As befits an event of this magnitude, one of the performances of the opera was shown on a 70 square meter screen in a large Berlin square in front of 20,000 people. This is a "Manon" that will delight all lovers of opera, movies, Broadway shows and beautiful people with beautiful voices!

Manon Massenet

German

Approved

Photos