The story of Manon Lescaut has become part of the European imagination: she is the fun-loving woman who is irresistible to men. Of Massenet's many operas, she inspired the most popular one, and this libretto shows his minute attention to detail in bringing the character and the period to life. This guide opens with a general survey of Massenet's career by the musicologist Gerard Conde, and includes two essays about this particular opera. Professor Hugh Macdonald explores the interplay of speech and song in Manon and Massenet's genius for comedy. Professor Vivienne Mylne traces the sources and context of Prevost's novel.
Contents: Massenet, Gerard Conde; A Musical Synopsis, Hugh Macdonald; Prevost and 'Manon Lescaut', Vivienne Mylne; Manon: Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille; Manon: English version by Edmund Tracey
- ISBN10 0428644384
- ISBN13 9780428644383
- Publish Date 21 October 2018 (first published 1 February 1989)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Forgotten Books
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 416
- Language French