【Manon Lescaut】Synopsis, Character Map

Manon Lescaut: Character Map, opera

Manon Lescaut is Puccini’s opera, adapted from the novel by Abbé Prévaux. The main character, Manon, is considered the original femme fatale. It is the love story of Manon, a beautiful woman who captivates men, and Des Grieux, whose fate is determined by Manon. Highlights from Manon Lescaut include “A woman I’ve never seen before” Donna non vidi mai, “Even wrapped in soft lace” In quelle trine morbide, and “Lost and abandoned alone” Sola, perduta, abbandonata.

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Manon Lescaut, Opera: Character Map

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Character Map
Manon Lescaut, Opera: Character Map

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Roles

Manon Lescautsoprano
Chevalier Renato des Grieuxa studenttenor
LescautManon’s brotherbaritone
Geronte di RavoirTreasurer Generalbass
Edmondoa studenttenor
Manon Lescaut, Opera: Roles
  • Native title: Manon Lescaut
  • Language: Italian
  • Composers: Giacomo Puccini
  • Librettist: Luigi Illica, Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva
  • Based on: Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux, et de Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost
  • Premiere: February 1, 1893, Teatro Regio, Turin
  • Running time: 2 hour 5 minutes (Act 1: 35 minutes, Act 2: 40 minutes, Intermezzo: 5 minutes, Act 3: 20 minutes, Act 4: 25 minutes)

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Summary

Des Grieux falls in love with Manon at first sight. Geronte is also attracted to her.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I have never seen a woman like her before. I want to tell her that I love you.

Geronte plans to abduct Manon. Des Grieux and Manon escape first.

Manon cannot stand the poor life with Des Grieux, so she enters into a mistress contract with Geronte. She lives a privileged life, but is not fulfilled. Manon and Des Grieux meet again. Geronte shows up and accuses her. Geronte sues Manon. Her punishment is deportation from France to the United States. Manon and Des Grieux wander together in the American wilderness.

Manon Lescaut

Alone, lost, forsaken, I am in the wilderness. Everything is over.

Manon dies in Des Grieux’s arms.

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Act1, Synopsis

A large public square near the Paris Gate

People come and go.

Edmondo
Calm nights bring soft breezes and stars. Dear night is for poets and lovers.

Ave, sera gentile

Students
It is also a night for thieves and drunkards.

Edmondo
The girls are coming. Let’s hit on them.

Des Grieux appears.

Edmondo
You should pick up girls with us. Or do you already have a girl you are in love with?

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Love? I don’t know about that. But I can make you happy.

He walks up to the girls.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Is there a fair-haired girl among you? Show me your beautiful face so that I may fall in love with you and worship you.

Tra voi, belle, brune e bionde

The students laugh. The girls leave angrily. The carriage stops in front of the inn. Manon, Lescaut, and Geronte get out of the carriage.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

She is truly beautiful.

Lescaut and Geronte enter the inn.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Can you tell me your name?

Manon Lescaut

My name is Manon Lescaut.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I am attracted to you. When are you planning to leave?

Manon Lescaut

We will leave for the convent tomorrow at dawn.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

What a beautiful person like you to go to a convent! You have a different destiny. Please give me a chance to see you again.

Manon Lescaut

I’ll meet you around here after dark.

She enters the inn.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I have never seen a woman like her. I want to tell her that I love you. She said this. My name is Manon Lescaut. Her fragrant words float in my soul.

Donna non vidi mai

The students make fun of him. He leaves angrily. Lescaut and Geronte emerge from the inn.

Geronte
Is Manon really going to the convent?

Lescaut

It was our father’s decision. Do you come here on a trip?

Geronte
I’m here on business. I’m in the business of collecting taxes for the government.

Lescaut

(He’s going to be a gold mine.) Let’s have a drink together.

Geronte
Sure. No, I just remembered something.

Lescaut leaves. Geronte searches for the innkeeper.

Geronte
(To the innkeeper) Get me a carriage secretly behind the inn. It is for the man and the girl to go to Paris.

Edmond eavesdrops. Des Grieux returns.

Edmondo
Your beautiful flowers are about to be stolen by an old man.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I want to help her. Help us.

Manon appears.

Manon Lescaut

I am here to keep my promise to you because you are eager to see me.

Vedete? Io son fedele alla parola mia

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I love you. Your beauty will bring you a bright future. But now a rich old man is trying to abduct you.

The students offer Lescaut a drink.

Edmondo
Here comes the carriage.

Manon Lescaut

Are you going to abduct me?

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Love will take you away. Let’s run away together.

They go to the carriage. Geronte sees Lescaut drunk.

Geronte
(Let’s abduct his sister.) Where is Manon?

Edmondo
She left with a student.

Geronte
Your sister has been abducted. Let’s go after them.

Lescaut looks at the students and thinks for a moment.

Lescaut

There is no point in chasing them now. Their destination is Paris anyway. The students’ money will soon run out. Manon can’t stand poverty. Then she will accept your offer.

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Act2, Synopsis

A room in Geronte’s house in Paris

A hairdresser does Manon’s hair. Lescaut appears.

Lescaut

I did not lose hope when you fled from the inn. You lived in poverty with him. De Grieve is a fine young man. But he has no money. No wonder you left him and took this palace.

Manon Lescaut

I am worried because I left without saying goodbye to him.

There is silence in the golden bed wrapped in soft lace. The cold silence makes me freeze. But I am used to it now. Instead of losing my passionate lips and arms, I have something else.

In quelle trine morbide

Lescaut

He’s trying to make money to get you back. I taught him how to gamble.

Manon Lescaut

I can’t believe he would gamble for me!

Lescaut

He is so drowned in bets that he lives without realizing his own madness.

She looks into the mirror in contemplation, but she is entranced by her own reflection.

Manon Lescaut

Does this dress look good on me?

Lescaut

You’re beautiful.

The musician appears and begins to sing.

Manon Lescaut

It must be a gift from Geronte. Thank her with this purse.

Lescaut

Don’t mock art.

Lescaut takes the purse she gave him and keeps it for himself. The musician leaves.

Manon Lescaut

I’m bored.

Geronte and the men enter the room.

Lescaut

(It is dangerous for a young woman to be bored. Let’s go to Des Grieux’s.)

Lescaut leaves. Manon dances with the dancing master. Geronte and the men watch.

Geronte
Come to our meeting later.

Geronte leaves. She looks at her face in a hand mirror.

Manon Lescaut

Oh, I’m the most beautiful!

Des Grieux appears.

Manon Lescaut

You, my dear, my love. My immeasurable love.

Tu, tù, amore

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

I have had my dark days.

Manon Lescaut

Don’t look at me like that. Look at this room! I am rich. What belongs in this room belongs to you. I beg your forgiveness. Trust me. I belong to you.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

You beat me. I am falling in love with you again.

Geronte appears. Manon screams.

Geronte
Now I know why you have kept me waiting. You will remember the token of my true love that I gave you.

Manon takes a hand mirror and points it at him.

Manon Lescaut

Love? Look at your face in the hand mirror. Then look at us!

Geronte
I know my duty. I will leave at once. (Threatening) Goodbye. And soon.

Geronte leaves.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

We can’t stay here.

Manon Lescaut

I can’t leave without something so beautiful!

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Your crazy ideas make you betray me. I am your slave, your victim. I am infamous and sordid. I am a mad gambler. What are you going to do with me?

Ah, manon, mi tradisce il tuo folle pensiero

Manon Lescaut

I swear to be faithful and good.

Lescaut rushes into the room.

Lescaut

Geronte has accused you! The soldiers are coming here.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Come on, let’s go.

Manon Lescaut

I need my jewelry!

Lescaut

What are you doing? The soldiers have surrounded the house.

Geronte and the soldiers appear. Terrified, she scatters her hidden jewels. Geronte sees her and taunts her. Des Grieux tries to draw his sword, but Lescaut stops him.

Lescaut

If you get caught, who will help Manon?

Intermezzo

Manon Lescaut’s interlude is based on a piece Puccini composed as a student.

Puccini : Manon Lescaut – Intermezzo

Puccini “Crisantemi” performed by the Enso String Quartet

Manon Lescaut, Opera: Act3, Synopsis

A square near the harbor in Le Havre

The harbor before dawn. Near the harbor is the prison where Manon is being held. Des Grieux and Lescaut look around.

Lescaut

It’s time to switch to the soldiers I bribed. You should see Manon soon. She already knows our plan. My friend and I will cause a commotion, so you two must escape.

Des Grieux approaches the prison.

Manon Lescaut

My love! Don’t leave me!

A shot rings out. Lescaut comes running.

Lescaut

The mission has failed! You must run.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

If you run alone, I don’t care if you die here.

Manon Lescaut

If you love me, run!

Lescaut takes De Grieve. Dawn breaks. The women emerge from the prison.

Sergeant of the Royal Archers
We are ready to sail. Get the women on the ship.

The women’s names are called one by one. People taunt the women.

Lescaut

A woman named Manon was abducted by a nobleman on her wedding day. He abandoned her immediately. This pale young man is her bridegroom. How pitiful.

Des Grieux goes to her side.

Manon Lescaut

This is my destiny. You must return to your home. Maybe I haven’t given you enough love. That’s my regret.

The soldiers let the women onto the ship. Des Grieux does not let her go.

Naval Captain
What’s all the fuss about?

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Look at me. I am mad. I cry out to You for mercy. Please hire me. I’m ready to do any kind of unpleasant work.

Guardate, pazzo son

Naval Captain
I’m putting you on a ship.

Manon Lescaut: Act4, Synopsis

A vast plain near the outskirts of the New Orleans territory

Manon and Des Grieux are lost in the wilderness.

Manon Lescaut

Let’s go on. It will be night soon.

She’s going down.

Manon Lescaut

I give up. No, I’m sorry. I just need to rest.

She faints.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Oh, she’s got a fever!

Manon Lescaut

Are you crying? Thirst torments me.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

There is nothing. There is no water in dry land.

Manon Lescaut

I’ll wait here. Go over the horizon. Bring me good news.

He looks back at her several times, then runs away.

Manon Lescaut

Alone, lost and forsaken, I am in the wilderness. My deadly beauty has ignited a new fire. Everything will end.

Sola, perduta, abbandonata

He returns.

Manon Lescaut

I will die soon. I can no longer speak well, but I can tell you this. I love you.

Chevalier Renato des Grieux

Manon!

Manon Lescaut

I can no longer hear you. Do you remember the Manon you once loved? Was my youth bright? My sins may be forgotten, but my love will never disappear.

Manon dies. He faints over her body.

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