Manon Lescaut returns to the Janáček Theatre after more than fifty years

29 January 2025, 9:00
Manon Lescaut returns to the Janáček Theatre after more than fifty years

After more than 50 years, a new production of Puccini's Manon Lescaut returns to the Janáček Theatre as the opera directorial debut of Štěpán Pácl and with music conducted by Ondrej Olos.

Manon Lescaut was Puccini's first remarkable success, but it also meant so much more. It was one of the first operas centred around strong female characters. Manon is a woman who can charm more than just the men of the 18th and 19th centuries. This year, it will be the first opera produced by NdB director Štěpán Pácl, who adds: "Puccini has written a great, powerful story of two young people, not exceptional people, but people who have fallen for the immeasurable power of love. And just as it is a story about them, it is a story about us, too, as we also - regardless of our age or life experience - fall headlong into the creative yet destructive power of love. And it is always about which part of it we let prevail."

"The opera has a famous intermezzo which in a way brings together three basic motifs, namely the motif of longing, which is heard in the first act, then that of suffering, which accompanies us in Act 4, and the motif of the brief time Manon and des Grieux spend living together, which is heard in a joint duet in the second act. These three motifs are the pillars that hold up the story from a musical point of view." explains conductor Ondrej Olos, whose musical direction is the basis of the production.

A significant role is played by the set designed by Dragan Stojčevski, who says the audience can look forward to scenography that blends a contemporary minimalist approach with a nod to Rococo, represented here by large fans.

Manon is performed by Jana Šrejma Kačírková, a leading soloist of the NdB Janáček Opera, or regular guest Linda Ball. Cast as Renato des Grieux is Thalia Award-winning Peter Berger, or Mykhailo Malafia, a native of Lviv, who has had a number of successful roles on the world's opera stages. Soloist Jiří Brückler will perform as Lescaut.

The passionate Manon craves the love of the young Knight des Grieux, as well as the life of luxury and wealth that only the old banker Géronte can provide. The opera is based on the original French romantic novel by Abbé Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, whose heroine became an immortal literary figure and a source of inspiration for numerous artists. Puccini offered his audience passion and despair, but also hope, which overcomes even the tragic end of the main character, because love never dies. In Manon he showed himself to be a supreme dramatist who can capture human emotions in music like few other composers. The première is planned for 7 February 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Janáček Theatre.

GIACOMO PUCCINI

MANON LESCAUT

AN OPERA IN FOUR ACTS, LIBRETTO D. OLIVA AND L. ILLICA

ARRANGEMENT BY ONDREJ OLOS

CONDUCTED BY ONDREJ OLOS / ROBERT KRUŽÍK

DIRECTED BY ŠTĚPÁN PÁCL

SETS BY DRAGAN STOJČEVSKI

COSTUMES BY LINDA BORÁROS

LIGHTING DESIGN BY PŘEMYSL JANDA

CHOREOGRAPHY BY ANDREA MILTNEROVÁ

DRAMATURGY BY PATRICIA ČÁSTKOVÁ

CHOIRMASTER PAVEL KOŇÁREK

CAST:

MANON LESCAUT LINDA BALLOVÁ, JANA ŠREJMA KAČÍRKOVÁ

LESCAUT JIŘÍ BRÜCKLER

RENATO DES GRIEUX PETER BERGER, MYKHAILO MALAFII

GERONTE DI RAVOIR ZDENĚK PLECH

EDMONDO VÍT NOSEK

INNKEEPER JOSEF ŠKARKA

DANCE MASTER PETR LEVÍČEK

SINGER JITKA KLEČANSKA

LANTERNMAKER PAVEL VALENTA

SEA CAPTAIN JOSEF ŠKARKA

BARRACKS SERGEANT DAVID NYKL

WIGMAKER (SILENT ROLE) VÁCLAV FIALA

Choir and Orchestra of the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno, extras

Photo by Marek Olbrzymek

Photo by Marek Olbrzymek

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