Manon

Visually and vocally this is a glittering performance of Jules Massenet's 1884 version of Pr(vost's much-adapted tale of Manon Lescaut, the young girl destined for a convent who runs off with a chevalier instead, embarking on a life of love, extravagance, and eventual tragedy. As with all of Massenet's operas, the music is unfailingly fluent and refined, and on the present DVD it's played splendidly by the fine orchestra of the Op(ra National de Paris, which revels in the piquant interludes and lushly romantic set-pieces under the sensitive direction of Jesus Lopez-Cobos. The title role is sung magnificently by Ren(e Fleming, who may look too old for the part but silences all doubts with her splendid vocalism; she's ably seconded by Marcelo Álvarez, who puts his ringing tenor to good use as her lover des Grieux. The rest of the cast, if not quite up to their level, is more than adequate--it's especially nice to watch septuagenarian Michel S(n(chal strut his stuff as the lecherous Guillot--and this 2001 Opera Bastille production is lovely to look at, with colorful costumes and elegantly simple sets. The camerawork is expert as well, and the sound superb, with DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM stereo options. Indeed, this Manon is so fine that one regrets a few small, pointless cuts--Act I, for example, closes with the departure of the lovers, omitting the short crowd scene that should follow. Still, this set will find much favor with lovers of French op(ra comique. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)