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Daily Herald, 28 September 2008 |
By Bill Gowen |
Manon, Chicago, 27
September 2008
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Dessay, Kaufmann bring "Manon" to life at Lyric Opera
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Lyric Opera of Chicago picked the ideal vehicle
to open its 2008-09 season Saturday night: Jules Massenet's "Manon," a
showpiece for great singing, acting, dancing and stagecraft.
And when it comes to great singing, the Lyric has cast what general
director William Mason calls "two of today's most extraordinary stars," in
French soprano Natalie Dessay in the title role and German tenor Jonas
Kaufmann as her on-again, off-again paramour, the Chevalier des Grieux.
"Manon" is based on a famous 18th century French novel (a real potboiler in
its day). It worked so well in the hands of opera composer Jules Massenet in
1884 that his Italian counterpart, Giacomo Puccini, created his own
successful version for the stage in 1892, titled "Manon Lescaut."
But the "Manon" of the moment is that by Massenet, last presented by Lyric
Opera in 1983 with the estimable Italian diva Renata Scotto in the title
role. But in 2008, the opera world is blessed with a superstar French
coloratura soprano in Dessay, who brings spectacular artistry to one of the
great French opera roles, which is now firmly established as as a major
element of her repertoire.
Dessay did not disappoint Saturday night, bringing all the drama and nuance
Massenet and his librettists, Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, created for
thr multi-faceted character of Manon Lescaut.
And this opera doesn't begin and end with the leading soprano.You must
also have a world-class tenor to portray De Grieux, who loves Manon deeply
but is hurt deeply to see her stray into the arms of a rival in the middle
part of the opera. Kaufmann, who made his Lyric Opera debut as Cassio in
"Otello" in 2001-02 and returned as Alfredo in "La traviata" the following
season, shows how much he has grown as an artist in the intervening years as
he takes on this challenging role for the first time.
Most operas make do with one or two love duets, but Massenet has written
four. Two of them are spectacular: the dramatic rekindling of their love
("Toi! Vous!") closing Act 3, and Manon's death scene ("Ah! Des Grieux") at
the final curtain.
The strong supporting cast is uniformly excellent. Of particular note is
American tenor David Cangelosi, who has made a career of bringing creative
musicality to often-overlooked character roles. In this case, there could
hardly be a better fit than for the middle-aged Guillot de Morfontaine. But
cut through the outer buffoonery (fluffy powdered wig and cane, etc.) and
you have a man on his own special kind of mission. Cangelosi brings out all
Guillot's frolics and foibles, still reserving a hint of the character's
subtle villainy.
Stage director David McVicar created this production for English National
Opera with a revival in Barcelona, Spain, before bringing it to the Lyric.
His unit set (designed by Tanya McCallin) has a timeless look, with
McCallin's traditional costumes firmly planting the opera in the reign of
Louis XV, in the mid-18th century. Stage lighting is usually hidden, but
McVicar, in collaboration with lighting designer Paule Constable, has
visibly integrated them into the scenery to dramatic effect.
Massenet's haunting score, with its recurring 10-note "Manon" theme
prominent in the first half of the opera (before things really become
dramatic in Acts 4 and 5), is conducted with passion by Emmanuel Villaume,
at home in his native French repertoire.
Donald Nally's Lyric Opera Chorus acquitted itself with its usual virtuosty
throughout the evening, in particular the large crowd scenes of the Paris
Cours-la-Reine in Act 3 (which also included a fine contribution from the
Lyric's ballet corps) and the lively casino scene in Act 4.
"Manon" Where: Ardis Krainik Theatre, Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive.
When: Additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 7, 11, 18, 21, 24, 27 and
31; 2 p.m. Oct. 4 and 15 Tickets: Call (312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600, or visit
lyricopera.org, for availability and reservations; major credit cards
accepted. At a glance: Opera comique in five acts by Jules Massenet, with
libretto by Haneu Meilhac and Philippe Gille. David McVicar, stage director;
Tanya McCallin, set and costume designer; Donald Nally, chorus master; Lyric
Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Emmanuel Villaume.
Starring: Natalie Dessay as Manon Jonas Kaufmann as Chevalier des Grieux
Raymond Aceto as Count des Grieux David Cangelosi as Guillot de Morfontaine
Christopher Feigum as Lescaut With Jake Gardner, Andriana Chuchman, Kathryn
Leenhuis, Katherine Lerner, Sam Handley and Angela Mannino |
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