Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007)

Additional Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007) Information

David McVicar's staging plays well in Tanya McCallin's traditional costumes and unconventional sets. Manon enters wearing functional, boyish traveling clothes, later graduating to a gold, green, and cream gown, and finally, a ragged shift for the finale. The aristocrats are in foppish outfits, wigs, and beauty marks, underlining McVicar's apparent subtext of Manon as a condemnation of 18th-century French high society, something that would likely have surprised Massenet. That theme is carried throughout the opera, as the stage is often littered with onlookers, sometimes in the on-stage tiered amphitheatre and even in the intimacy of the room shared by the lovers, where extras not only appear in the wings but also arrange themselves in awkward positions that divert the viewer's attention. To the degree such stagings lessen the sentimentality of the narratives, they're a plus; but McVicar's viewpoint does take something away from the story's intimacy. His production does succeed mightily in suggesting where each scene takes place with minimal props--a table here, some chairs there, and we are in a room, a gambling hall, a dark quayside. Francois Roussillon's TV direction is also smoothly functional, letting us take in the scenes while also getting close to the characters. --Dan Davis

What Customers Say About Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007):

Ms. Dessay is a wonderful opera star, just lika Mr. Villazon. And this Massenet opera is just wonderful.

Dessay moving from the innocent to the femme fatale simply doesn't work. Having viewed Villazon/Netrebko in the Salzburg Festival's 'La Traviata' release on DVD, I come to this production still reeling from the other. Her voice is beautiful but I couldn't feel her voice the way I could Villazon. First things first, the singing is incredible. If her facial expression always remained the same, there was still an emotion in her voice. This is France before the Revolution, the lasciviousness of the background characters, the motley crue of the elite with their predisposition for dissolution. My interest waned and I found the remaining acts punishing to watch.

This was illustrated well. The staging I felt was in keeping with the tone of the era and Prevost's book. So in fact, the overall tone (of the singing) and the tone (of the stage) were bang on. I felt sympathy for his character and not hers.

I will admit, as I write this review, I feel spoiled. Again, I am spoiled but I truly feel an opera's success nowadays can depend on the acting and chemistry of the leads. Joan Sutherland couldn't act, she could sing and she had a certain presence. Villazon sings and acts with heart. Dessay started out strong, playing the wide-eyed girl about to enter the convent before being whisked away by de Grieux's character. We hear his pangs of love, we feel his heart beating in confusion for Manon but when we see Dessay's Manon, we wonder why he would feel a certain way. Dessay and Villazon both have incredible range, they sing, they are controlled, they project confidence. Manon is a powerful character but Dessay simply doesn't offer what her role demands.

Despite how beautiful everything comes off, especially with the addition of the dancing and the waving of fans to symbolize the steaminess of this decadent world, there is a lack of chemistry between Villazon and Dessay. But when she appears later as a the bourgeois woman of the world, I felt she lacked credibility and stage presence. While Villazon comes through, his role in many ways doesn't benefit from Dessay's lack of credibility. This production on the surface is faithful to Massenet's Manon (the singing, the staging) but when it comes to the heart of the matter, I found it lacked.

In a word, this is a superb performance by the lead singers.Dessay has a beautiful voice and uses it with intelligence and her portrayal of Manon is about as human as you can get. They are involved with each other, interacting at every level of an interrelationship between lovers. She is one with Manon, living and breathing as thouigh she is Manon herself.Villazon sings a thrilling Des Grieux. This performance will leave no one unaffected.This a well sung performance by and large, though not all the singers are up to the demands of their respective roles - Manuel Lanza is unable to hit the high notes squarely on the head during the climaxes - he almost does but falls short. Dessay moves easily about the stage, singing naturally and thrillingly throughout. Her interpretation of Manon is very believable. I recently purchased the DVD of Jules Massenet's opera Manon as performed by Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon at the GranTheatre del Liceu in Barcelona. They draw the audience into the very vortex of their turbulent experiences.

His was a stellar career and he was worthy of the acclaim he received in his vocal prime. You laugh with them and you suffer along with them. The supporting cast contributed to the overall high standards of the performance as does the orchestra under the baton of Victor Pablo Perez.Certainly, this is a DVD well worth owning and I recommend it highly to all opera lovers. I am not at ease with Villazon's vocal technique and I wonder how he gets such good results since he seems to sing inwardly rather than pushing the voice out. She is a consumate actress, able to express the many-faceted traits of the heroine. Sadly, Samuel Ramey as Le Comte Des Grieux has seen better days.

His voice has a bright ring to it and he interprets Des Grieux convincingly. But it is a time honored adage that says: "You don't argue with success." and Villazon has earned his place among the top tenors of the operatic world legitimately and justly.Dessay and Villazon do not sing/act Manon and Des grieux - they ARE Manon and Des Grieux. The voice is wobbly and unfocussed. One would be hard pressed to find a better duo than Dessay and Villazon in this opera.

How about setting the opera in a tent city along the American River during the Great Depression of 2009-2112. Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007)An excellent production from Barcelona with great singing from Dessay and Villazon. But, let's face it: ruffled collars and powdered wigs are so last year. Wouldn't that be more fun. (Meanwhile I'm anxiously waiting for my Copenhagen Ring to arrive).

Manon [Blu-ray]Impressive direction; Outstading singing and acting of the two main characters.