Manon Lescaut
By Giacomo Puccini
Approximate Running Time: Two hours, forty minutes, with 2 intermissions
In Italian with English captions
What's Going On?
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On her way to a convent school, the
beautiful Manon Lescaut meets a young and poor student, des Grieux. She
abandons her brother, Lescaut, and another admirer, the wealthy Geronte
di Ravoir, to elope with des Grieux to Paris in Geronte’s coach.
When the money runs out, the two
lovers part. Manon goes to Geronte, who can support her in a luxurious
home, even though she still longs for des Grieux. When her brother visits
her at Geronte’s home, Manon confesses her love for des Grieux. Lescaut
arranges for des Grieux to meet with Manon again. The lovers reunite and
resolve to run away from Paris. Manon delays to collect her jewels (all
gifts from Geronte). Geronte discovers them together, and Manon makes
fun of him. In a rage, Geronte goes to the police, denouncing Manon
as a prostitute. The police arrest Manon.
Des Grieux discovers that Manon has
been sentenced to deportation. With the help of her brother, des Grieux
joins her on the ship bound for America and later helps her to escape. But
the escape proves fatal to the fragile Manon. Lost in the desert, she
dies of thirst in des Grieux’s arms.
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