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The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra presents 'Opera in Concert'.

Manon Lescaut is too young to really know who she is. What she does know is that she’s beautiful. Heart-stoppingly beautiful. What she learns later is that her charms are a commodity that can be bought and sold like any other.

Dalibor Jenis

Dalibor Jenis Photo: Supplied

The young student Des Grieux is overtaken by love the moment he sees her, and indeed, Manon falls in love with him. But Manon loves other things too – attention, revelry, wealth.

One of the original anti-heroines, Manon makes one poor decision after another, leaving her an exploited, desolate woman. Yet, right up until the final note, she remains as mesmerising to us as she does to her haplessly devoted lover.

PUCCINI: Manon Lescaut

Manon......................... Serena Farnocchia

Des Grieux................... Kamen Chanev

Lescaut........................ Dalibor Jenis

Geronte........................ Pelham Andrews

Bianca Andrew, James Ioelu, Matteo Falcier

Freemasons NZ Opera Chorus, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra/Giordano Bellincampi (RNZ)

Synopsis for Manon Lescaut

Presenter: Indra Hughes
Producer: Tim Dodd
Sound Engineer: Adrian Hollay
Recorded in Auckland Town Hall by RNZ Concert, 14 July 2017