Puccini: Manon Lescaut (2016)

performed by Anna Netrebko (vocals), Arina Holecek (vocals), Armando Pina (vocals), Benjamin Bernheim (vocals), Carlos Chausson (vocals), Cornelia Sonnleithner (vocals), Daliborka Miteva (vocals), Erik Anstine (vocals), Martina Reder (vocals), Patrick Vogel (vocals)
composed by Giacomo Puccini

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko made a well-publicized debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2016, and this live concert performance from the Salzburg Festival, recorded the same year with many of the same forces, was perhaps intended to capitalize on the event. It likely makes a good substitute for the Met performance. La Netrebko dominates the proceedings, even when paired with her husband, Azeri tenor Yusif Eyvazov, in the role of des Grieux. You might take this as a negative or as a positive: when you're dealing with ... Read More

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko made a well-publicized debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2016, and this live concert performance from the Salzburg Festival, recorded the same year with many of the same forces, was perhaps intended to capitalize on the event. It likely makes a good substitute for the Met performance. La Netrebko dominates the proceedings, even when paired with her husband, Azeri tenor Yusif Eyvazov, in the role of des Grieux. You might take this as a negative or as a positive: when you're dealing with a star of Netrebko's magnitude, the proper effect is achieved when the stage takes on a jolt of electricity when the prima donna appears. That's what happens here, for Netrebko has the elusive combination of dramatic effectiveness and musical power that has put her at the top of the soprano heap. Sample "In quelle trine morbide" from Act II, where Manon's thoughts turn from the bureaucrat who keeps her as his mistress to her true love des Grieux, for a taste of how Netrebko keeps the... Read Less