<<  -- 2 --  Maria Nockin    A GREAT CREDIT

Susan Hilferty's costumes were colorful, attractive, and aided the principals in their characterizations. Like the steam engine in the first scene, some of the dresses brought back memories of the fifties with their crinoline lined taffeta skirts. They were totally accurate in their representation of the period.

Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille based their libretto for this opera on Abbé Prévost's 1731 novel, Manon Lescaut. Jules Massenet composed the music for it in 1882 and 1883. The following year it was premièred at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

General Director Plácido Domingo conducted the performance on 5 October 2006. Although the overture had a few rough edges, the rest of the score was beautifully performed in idiomatic French style. Domingo has a unique rapport with the singers and it helped the entire cast put together a fine rendition of the score.

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