This production seems to be the filler in the Metropolitan Opera's 2008 high definition season. Karita Matilla and Marcello Giordani make an unlikely teenage virgin and student. At least Karita Matilla's voice is up to the part and she successfully adopts a girlish manner. The portly Giordani is apparently a Met favourite and is reckoned by some to have a voice similar to Pavarotti's. Not by me though. His high notes sound particularly strained in Act I and I was reminded that I was similarly underwhelmed by his performance in a recent Butterfly from Verona.
This is a revival of a very traditional production. Some of the scenery looks almost as old as the principals. One pouffe keeps on collapsing at the end of Act II whenever Manon tries to pile her jewellery onto it. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable, if undemanding, production, with a fast-moving plot in Acts I and II. I cherish dodgy card playing scenes in operas and this one has a corker. De Grieux is observing a card game and he says "An ace sir? It's a jack – your mistake". The card players turn to him and exclaim "An expert!" Presumably because he knows the difference between an ace and a jack. There is an entertaining parade of the prostitutes in Act III before that silly final death scene in the desert. This scene, perversely, has the best music in the opera and here, at last Giordani finally makes a favourable impression.