METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS: MANON LESCAUT,
ACT I {INCLUDING FIRST INTERMISSION WITH OPERA
NEWS} (RADIO)
Summary
Part one of four. One in this series of performances
by the Metropolitan Opera. In this program, the
Metropolitan Opera performs "Manon Lescaut" by Puccini,
the lyric tragedy set in 18th-century France, derived
from the Abbe Prevost's 1731 novel. Act I opens
outside an inn where students are drinking and playing
cards. Chevalier des Grieux, a student, is teased by
his friend Edmondo for brooding over an unhappy love
affair. Suddenly, a distant horn announces the arrival
of a stagecoach, which bears the wealthy treasury
general, Geronte de Ravoir, along with Sergeant Lescaut
of the King's guard and his young sister, Manon. The
men enter the inn, leaving Manon alone with des Grieux.
The two young people talk and quickly fall in love at
first sight. Manon tells des Grieux that she must
finish her schooling at a convent against her will. She
is called into the inn by her brother, and she promises
des Grieux that she will meet him later. Des Grieux is
thrilled by her and sings about her youth and beauty in
the aria "Donna non vidi mai." Meanwhile, Geronte and
Lescaut have struck a bargain -- rather than have Manon
return to the convent, Lescaut will allow Geronte to
"kidnap" her and bring her to Paris. Geronte bribes the
innkeeper to arrange for a carriage immediately.
Edmondo overhears this and tells des Grieux, who
informs Manon and begs her to go to Paris with him
instead. She agrees, and the couple flee in the
carriage, leaving behing a furious Geronte, who demands
that Lescaut follow her. During the first intermission,
composer Norman Dello Joio hosts "Opera News on the
Air." His guests are former Metropolitan Opera soprano
Lucrezia Bori and baritone Theodor Uppman. (There is a
brief audio disturbance toward the middle of the
intermission.) Continues with R87:0168. Sponsored by
the Texas Company.
(Network affiliation varies; as above, 1945-1958;
NBC Blue, 1931-1943; Blue Network, 1943-1945; CBS,
1958-1960; in syndication, 1960 to the present.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 31, 1956 2:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:02:00
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R87:0167
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: ABC - Radio series, 1945-1958
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Giacomo Puccini … Composer
- Dimitri Mitropoulos … Conductor
- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Kurt Adler … Chorus Master
- Herbert Graf … Direction (Misc.), Stage Director
- Licia Albanese … Cast, Manon, Singer
- Jussi Bjorling … Cast, Chevalier des Grieux, Singer
- Frank Guarrera … Cast, Lescaut, Singer
- Fernando Corena … Cast, Geronte de Ravoir, Singer
- Thomas Hayward … Cast, Edmondo, Singer
- De Paolis, Alessio … Cast, Ballet master, Singer
- George Cehanovsky … Cast, Innkeeper, Singer
- Rosalind Elias … Cast, Musician, Singer
- Calvin Marsh … Cast, Sergeant, Singer
- James McCracken … Cast, Lamplighter, Singer
- Osie Hawkins … Cast, Captain, Singer
- Milton Cross … Commentator
- Dello Joio, Norman … Host, "Opera News on the Air"
- Lucrezia Bori … Guest, "Opera News on the Air"
- Theodor Uppman … Guest, "Opera News on the Air"