Puccini: Manon Lescaut

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Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano

Tullio Serafin

Each act of Puccini’s episodic opera shows Manon Lescaut in a different light – from the ingénue of the first to the desperate, dying woman of the last. Though Callas never performed the role on stage, she captures every aspect of this passionate, but selfish and enigmatic character. In this particular Puccini opera, the tenor is by no means overshadowed by the soprano, and Giuseppe Di Stefano duly dominates the gripping scene at Le Havre. The young Fiorenza Cossotto – a powerhouse in roles such as Amneris and Eboli – makes a cameo appearance as the Madrigal Singer.

Manon Lescaut: Maria Callas

Lescaut: Giulio Fioravanti

Chevalier des Grieux: Giuseppe Di Stefano

Geronte di Ravoir: Franco Calabrese

Edmondo: Dino Formichini

L’oste: Carlo Forti

Il maestro di ballo: Vito Tatone

Un musico: Fiorenza Cossotto

Un sergente: Giuseppe Morresi

Un lampionaio: Franco Ricciardi

Un comandante: Franco Ventriglia