Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): Manon Lescaut (Highlights) Giacomo Puccini's first great success came in 1893 with his operatic version of the Abbe Prevost's...
Giacomo Puccini
(1858-1924): Manon Lescaut (Highlights)
Giacomo Puccini's
first great success came in 1893 with his operatic version of the Abbe
Prevost's novel Manon Lescaut, a work that established him as a possible
successor to Verdi. There had been disagreements over the libretto, which in
the end involved a number of writers, whose names did not appear on the
published text.
The Abbe Prevost, Antoine-François Prevost d'Exiles, was born in 1697
and was by turns a Jesuit novice, a soldier, a Benedictine monk and a convert
to Protestantism. He was forced to seek exile from his native France in 1728
and lived until 1734 in England and Holland, undergoing a period of
imprisonment in the former country for alleged forgery .He was allowed to
return to France as a Benedictine monk and was briefly in the service of the
Prince de Conti as chaplain until compelled to escape abroad again when he was
accused of writing various satirical pamphlets. He returned to France in 1742
and continued until his death in 1763 as a writer, leading a life complicated
by mistresses and by debt. His works included translations of Richardson's
novels Pamela and Clarissa Harlowe and the seven volumes of Memoires
et aventures d'un homme de qualite, written during his early exile. In the
seventh volume the gentleman of quality of the title receives the confidences
of the Chevalier des Grieux, a weak-willed hero who resembles in many ways the
author. This classical novel is in its elevation of sensibility and in the
strength of the passions depicted a precursor of Romanticism. It served as the
inspiration of earlier operas by Auber and by Massenet, the second of whose
work was first staged in Paris in 1884, bearing the simple title Manon.
Puccini's version of Manon Lescaut was first mounted at the
Teatro Regio in Turin on 1st February 1893, the year and month of the first
production of Verdi's Falstaff in Milan. The opera proved an immediate
success. It was staged at Covent Garden and at the Grand Opera House of
Philadelphia the following year. There were subsequent revisions and temporary
changes, with alterations in orchestration suggested by Toscanini for
performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, these last incorporated in
the later published score. The libretto itself, effective enough, in spite of
its multiple authorship, offers certain problems, not least in the omission of
the original second act suggested by Praga and Oliva and set in the Paris
apartment of Des Grieux, although what has happened in the interval between the
present first and second acts is quickly apparent.
Synopsis
The opera is set in the second half of the eighteenth century. Outside
an inn near the Paris Gate in Amiens townspeople, young and old, take the
evening air. Following a short introduction, [1] the girls are eyed by a group
of students, [2] among them the Chevalier des Grieux, who is persuaded by his
friends to pretend to flirt with them. A coach approaches, halting in front of
the inn. Lescaut and the elderly Geronte are welcomed into the inn and Lescaut
signs to his sister Manon to wait outside. [3] Des Grieux, struck by Manon's
beauty, addresses her, asking her name. She tells him that she is Manon Lescaut
and that the next day she will leave for a convent. Des Grieux seeks to help
her escape her fate. Called by her brother, Manon goes inside, finally
promising that she will return after dark to meet Des Grieux, [4] who sings now
in praise of her incomparable beauty and gentle innocence. While Lescaut comes
out and joins the young men gambling at the inn tables, Geronte tells the
landlord to order a coach and horses, to be ready within the hour behind the
inn, for a man and a young girl to go to Paris. Geronte has been overheard by
Edmondo, a fellow-student of Des Grieux, who tells the latter what is being
plotted and agrees to help him outwit both Lescaut, now absorbed in the game,
and Geronte. [5] Manon comes from the inn, and, seeing Des Grieux, joins him,
although she knows it is unwise. Des Grieux declares his love, to which she
clearly responds. He tells Manon of Geronte's plan to abduct her and offers
himself in the old man's place and they seize their opportunity to elope
together. Lescaut is left to dissuade Geronte from immediate pursuit, on the
grounds that Des Grieux will soon be out of money and then Geronte may have his
way.
By the opening of the second act matters have resolved themselves. Manon
has abandoned Des Grieux and given Way to Geronte. [6] In the luxury of a
richly decorated salon in Geronte's house in Paris, she enjoys every luxury,
but misses her young lover, now rich enough, her brother tells her, as a result
of his gambling. [7] She takes up a hand-mirror and admires herself. Hearing
someone approach, she asks if the sedan-chair that Geronte had gone to order is
ready, but it is Des Grieux who enters. She asks if he can still love her, but
he retmains bitter at her faithlessness, while she begs his forgiveness, as
their old love is revived and she falls into his arms. At this point Geronte
returns and reproaches Manon for her ingratitude. She hands him her mirror and
tells him to look at himself. Offended, he goes out, threatening that they will
meet again soon. [8] Des Grieux urges Manon to escape with him at once, but she
hesitates, reluctant to leave the luxury in which she has lived with Geronte,
while he laments his own degradation as a gambler. She again seeks forgiveness
and swears to be true to her young lover. At this moment Lescaut hurries in
with the news that Geronte has denounced Manon and that constables are on the
way to seize her. There is no time to be lost, but Manon is anxious to take her
jewels with her. The delay is fatal and Manon is arrested, while Lescaut
restrains Des Grieux from violence.
[9] An Intermezzo covers the journey of the imprisoned Manon to
Le Havre, from where she is condemned to transportation. The music reflects the
despair of Des Grieux, who has done all he can to secure her release.
[10] The third act is set near the harbour in Le Havre. Dawn is breaking
and Des Grieux and Lescaut are watching outside the prison, hoping for Manon's
escape, as Lescaut has arranged. Manon appears behind the bars of a prison
window and Des Grieux seizes her hand, while Lescaut leaves the couple
together. He tells how they plan to rescue her, but in the event the plot goes
awry. There is a roll of drums and the door of the barracks opens. A sergeant
and soldiers come out, and with them a group of chained women, now handed over
to the ship's captain for transportation. [11] The sergeant orders the women and
their guards away and pulls Manon away from Des Grieux. Breaking down in tears,
he begs the captain to allow him to sail with his beloved Manon, even as a
cabin boy, and his plea is granted. Manon turns and, guessing what has
happened, shows her own delight. She opens her arms to him, as Des Grieux runs
to her. Lescaut shakes his head and walks away.
The final act is set in America. In the wilderness near New Orleans
clouds cover the sky, as evening falls. Manon and Des Grieux are seen,
dishevelled and exhaused. [12] He tells her to lean all her weight on him, as
the road comes to an end, but she can go no further. She faints and Des Grieux
tries desperately to revive her. Coming to, she tells him to leave her and seek
help and he resolves to do what he can. [13] Alone, Manon realises death is
near. [14] Des Grieux returns and she falls into his arms, assuring him again
and again of her love. Her faults will be forgotten but her love will never
die, she tells him, her last words, leaving Des Grieux to fall grief-stricken
on her body.
Keith Anderson