Manon Lescaut is a devastating depiction of a woman wrestling with her desire for love on her own terms, and the rigid double standards imposed on her by society. The opera was a breakthrough hit for its composer, Giacomo Puccini, and is packed with memorable music and heartbreaking drama.
Jude Christian, fresh from a critically acclaimed Titus Andronicus at London’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, brings incisive direction and a sharp, poetic new translation to her radical new production, while ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius conducts.
Their sound and virtuosity did the composer proud
Bachtrack
The orchestra under Gerry Cornelius caught the way Puccini's immortal score flips on a sixpence from tenderness to uproarious energy
The Telegraph
Jenny Stafford sings gleamingly as Manon and Gareth Dafydd Morris brings a burnished tenor to Des Grieux
The Guardian
Artists
Jude Christian
Director & LibrettistGerry Cornelius
ConductorCharlotte Henery
DesignerBen Ormerod
Lighting DesignerMichael Papadopoulos
Conductor (10, 18, 23 & 25 May)Nicholas Bosworth
RépétiteurMegan Rarity
Costume Supervisor
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Jenny Stafford
Manon![]()
Gareth Dafydd Morris
Des Grieux![]()
Aidan Edwards
Lescaut![]()
Edward Hawkins
Geronte![]()
Brenton Spiteri
Edmondo![]()
Cicely Hé
Singer & Ensemble![David Horton image]()
David Horton
Dance Master & Ensemble![]()
Amy J Payne
Naval Captain![]()
Phil Wilcox
Ensemble & Sergeant, Lescaut (Cover), Innkeeper (Cover)![]()
Edward Jowle
Ensemble & Innkeeper, Sergeant (Cover)![]()
Julia Mariko
Lamplighter & Ensemble![]()
Rachel Speirs
Ensemble![]()
Shafali Jalota
Ensemble![]()
Judy Louie Brown
Ensemble![]()
Morgana Warren-Jones
Ensemble![]()
Jack Dolan
Ensemble![]()
Sandeep Gurrapadi
Ensemble![]()
Masimba Ushe
Ensemble![]()
Philippa Boyle
Manon (Cover)![Dominic Walsh image]()
Dominic J. Walsh
Des Grieux (Cover)![]()
Trevor Eliot Bowes
Geronte (Cover)
