Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut, Giacomo Puccini’s third opera and his first major success, will open the new season at the Teatro Real with performances on 23, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 30 September and 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11 October. It is a co-production with the Cologne Opera (2025) that will be making its debut at the Teatro Real with Nicola Luisotti as the musical director and staging by Carlos Wagner. This opera is returning to the Teatro Real following an absence of 102 years. Manon Lescaut’s tragic life takes place in a revolving space presided by the circular structure of a merry-go-round, which is turned into a bar, a prison and a path of eternal return that imprisons the main character. The cast is made up of two sets of excellent voices, bringing the characters to life, in which Sondra Radvanovsky and Saioa Hernández can be highlighted; as well as Brian Jagde, Michael Fabiano and Jorge de León; Lucas Meachem and Szymon Mechlinski; Pietro Spagnoli, Alejandro del Cerro and Albert Casals, among others. This is a very special Italian opera with the most demanding tenor part ever written by the composer, turning each scene into a vocal and dramatic challenge. Manon Lescaut tells the story of a young French girl, Manon, whose family sends her to a convent. However, on the way there, she meets Chevalier Des Grieux. They fall in love and decide to flee to Paris together. However, Manon soon tires of the humble life without any luxuries and succumbs to the temptation of wealth, abandoning Des Grieux to become the lover of the wealthy Geronte. Artistic File: Musical Director - Nicola Luisotti Stage Manager - Carlos Wagner Stage Design - Franck Philipp Schlößmann Costumes - Jon Morrell Lighting - Nicol Hungsberg Choirmaster - José Luis Basso Cast: Sondra Radvanovsky (Manon Lescaut) - 23, 26, 29 September / 2, 5, 8, 11 October Saioa Hernández (Manon Lescaut) - 24, 27, 30 September / 3, 6, 9 October Lucas Meachem (Lescaut) - 23, 26, 29 September / 2, 5, 8, 11 October Szymon Mechliński (Lescaut) - 24, 27, 30 September / 3, 6, 9 October Brian Jagde (Chevalier Renato des Grieux) - 23, 26, 29 September / 2, 5 October Michael Fabiano (Chevalier Renato des Grieux) - 24, 27, 30 September / 3, 6, 9 October Jorge de León (Chevalier Renato des Grieux) - 8, 11 October Pietro Spagnoli (Geronte di Ravoir) - 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September / 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 October Alejandro del Cerro (Edmondo) - 23, 26, 29 September / 2, 5, 8, 11 October Albert Casals (Edmondo) - 24, 27, 30 September / 3, 6, 9 October Javier Castañeda (Innkeeper / Naval Captain) - 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September / 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 October Mercedes Gancedo (Singer) - 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September / 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 October Mikeldi Atxalandabaso (The Dancing Master / Lamplighter) - 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September / 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 October Javier Franco (Sergeant of the Royal Archers) - 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September / 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 October Language: Italian Subtitles: Spanish, English Image Credits: © Sandra Then Oper Köln