MASSENET: MANON - Alagna, Gheorghiu, Pappano (3 CDs)

In Act 1 Gheorghiu instantly establishes the heroine as a vivacious, wilful character with a great sense of fun and her singing is both imaginative and technically flawless...while Alagna, always at his happiest in French-language opera, portrays Des Grieux as full of eager innocence as well as passion. --Penguin Guide

Angela Gheorghiu (Manon), Roberto Alagna (Le Chevalier Des Grieux), Earle Patriarco (Lescaut), José van Dam (Le Compte des Grieux), Sophie Koch (Javotte), Anne Maria Panzarella (Poussette), Susanne Schimmack (Rosette), Nicolas Rivenq (De Brétigny), Nicolas Cavallier (L'Hôtelier), Gilles Ragon (Guillot de Morfontaine)


Orchestra of the Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, Brussels, Chorus of the Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, Brussels
Antonio Pappano