Massenet: Manon

A pretty-picture version of this ingratiating opera, with a strong performance from Francisco Araiza, but Edita Gruberova as Manon looks far too doll-like and sings in piping tones. Just charm, with little pathos. Michael Tanner

Michael Tanner

Published: January 20, 2012 at 4:04 pm

COMPOSERS: Massenet
LABELS: DG
ALBUM TITLE: Massenet
WORKS: Manon
PERFORMER: Edita Gruberova, Francisco Araiza, Pierre Thau; Vienna State Opera/Adam Fischer; dir. Ponnelle (Vienna, 1983)
CATALOGUE NO: 073 4207

A pretty-picture version of this ingratiating opera, with a strong performance from Francisco Araiza, but Edita Gruberova as Manon looks far too doll-like and sings in piping tones. Just charm, with little pathos. Michael Tanner

Michael Tanner

Journalist and Critic, BBC Music Magazine

Michael Tanner is a critic for BBC Music Magazine and the opera critic of The Spectator. He is now a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, having lectured in the Philosophy faculty at the University of Cambridge for 36 years. In 2010, he released The Faber Pocket Guide to Wagner.
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