by InTrieste
The Verdi theater opened its season with Puccini’s masterwork renowned for its celebrated melodies and unforgettable characters. Trieste’s opera theater was packed full of well-dressed Triestini and visitors eager to enjoy the first opera of the season on Wednesday, 8 November.
Opera in four acts to a libretto by an anonymous author (those actually collaborating were Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Luigi Illica and Giulio Ricordi) from the novel “Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut” by Abbé Antoine-François Prévost. First performance: Turin, Teatro Regio, 1 February 1893.
It was Ferdinando Fontana, the librettist of the first two works, who suggested that Puccini should write an opera on this subject. But Casa Ricordi, in July, 1889, entrusted the task of writing the libretto to Marco Praga and Domenico Oliva. The composition was delayed by constant requests for changes in the libretto, so much so that Praga abandoned the enterprise. The librettist team was then joined by Ruggero Leoncavallo and finally Luigi Illica. Giulio Ricordi also contributed to defining the dramaturgy. During the course of preparation Puccini decided to completely eliminate the original Act II, the so-called “small house act”, which told the idyll of love between Manon and Des Grieux after escaping from Amiens. The premiere was greeted with enthusiasm: a public triumph with great appreciation from the critics. The work, which can be considered to be Puccini’s first masterpiece, after some time, began to tour Italy, Europe and South America.
Puccini nevertheless continued to work on the score, making small and large changes, at least until the representation organized at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1923, the thirtieth anniversary of the premiere under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.
The opera, which has a wealth of famous moments was performed without missing a beat by a group of young and very close-knit artists. This production, conducted by the young Maestra Gianni Fratta celebrates in the best possible way Puccini’s genius.
The acclaimed tenor Roberto Aronica in the role of Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux sang on the opening night to enthusiastic ovations, making his Trieste Verdi theater debut alongside soprano Lana Kos as Manon Lescaut.
