Opera Guide and Synopsis: Manon, by Jules Massenet

Jules Massenet's opera Manon is based on the novel Les aventures du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by Antoine François Prévost. The libretto was adapted by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille. Giacomo Puccini later used the same work for his opera Manon Lescaut (1893)-Massenet having claimed to have copy written the title Manon. Massenet's version has been a great success ever since its premiere in Paris on January 19, 1884.

Characters in Manon

• Manon Lescaut (Soprano)
• Lescaut, her cousin, a soldier (Baritone)
• Chevalier des Grieux (Tenor)
• Comte des Grieux, his father (Bass)
• Guillot de Morfontaine (Tenor)
• De Brétigny, a nobleman (Baritone)
• Pousette, Javotte, and Rosette, actresses (Soprani)
  

Synopsis of Manon

Act I-Courtyard of an Inn in Amiens, France

De Brétigny and Guillot entertain themselves while Lescaut waits for his young cousin, Manon. Her coach arrives. She is headed for a convent, and this is her first visit out in the world; it is the first time Lescaut has seen her. Guillot tries to flirt with her, but Lescaut warns him off. Left alone, she says that she would rather stay out in the world than be hidden away in a convent.

The Chevalier des Grieux enters, and they immediately fall in love, steal Guillot's coach, and ride off to Paris together.

Act II-Apartment in Paris

Some time later, Manon and des Grieux read a letter from the Chevalier to his father asking permission to marry Manon. Lescaut and a disguised de Brétigny break in and demand to know des Grieux's intentions; he shows Lescaut the letter. De Brétigny warns Manon that the Comte des Grieux plans to kidnap the Chevalier that evening, but de Brétigny will take care of her if she allows.

The soldiers leave, des Grieux mails the letter, and Manon says farewell to the table in their apartment. Des Grieux returns and promises that they will live happily when they are married; but then he is dragged away.

Act III

Scene 1-Cours la Reine, Paris

Guillot and Lescaut flirt, and Guillot plans to seduce Manon away from de Brétigny. Manon arrives ("Gavotte from Manon"). She learns from the Comte des Grieux that her lover has decided to become a priest and is studying at the seminary of St. Sulpice. Guillot brings in an entire ballet company to win her over, but to no avail; she heads to St. Sulpice to find des Grieux.

Scene 2-Church of St. Sulpice

The Chevalier des Grieux, now the Abbé des Grieux, has just preached his first sermon. His father begs him to leave the priesthood and marry, but he refuses. Alone, the Abbé begs the memory of Manon to leave him. But when Manon arrives, he cannot resist her, and the lovers flee back to Paris.

Act IV-Hôtel de Transylvanie, Paris

Manon brings des Grieux to a notorious gambling hall despite his discomfort. Guillot challenges him to a game, and he accepts on Manon's advice. He wins, leading to accusations of cheating; a fight breaks out, and Guillot has Manon and des Grieux arrested. The Comte des Grieux promises to free his son, but Manon worries about her fate as a woman in trouble.

Act V-The Road to Le Havre

Manon is to be deported to Louisiana, and des Grieux is waiting to free her. But she is terribly ill. Des Grieux bribes the guards to see her and promises to take her away to a better place, but she can only remember their time together so far. She dies in his arms, proclaiming, "And that is the story of Manon Lescaut."

Sources:

• Massenet, Jules. Manon (Score).
• Simon, Henry W. 100 Great Operas and Their Stories. Garden City: Dolphin, 1960.