Bass-Baritone Paul Carey Jones is honoured with high recognition as he performs “Lescaut” in Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut”
This week, on Tuesday, the new production of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” by the Opera Holland Park has premiered in London.
Puccini’s outstanding opera is set in France during the 18th century and tells the story of the love between Manon Lescaut (Elizabeth Llewellyn) and the young student Des Grieux (Peter Auty).
However, Manon is unsatisfied with a simple lifestyle and decides to stay with the elderly Geronte di Ravoir (Stephen Richardson, Benjamin Bevan) who offers her a life of luxury.
Manon cannot forget Des Grieux and they decide to escape. On the run, Manon collapses and tragically dies in Des Grieux’s arms.
Directed by Karolina Sofulak, the opera is performed in four acts, and sung in Italian with English surtitles. The Opera Holland Park production is accompanied by the City Of London Sinfonia conducted by Peter Robinson and the Opera Holland Park Chorus.
We are very proud that Bass-Baritone Paul Carey Jones, who plays Manon’s brother “Lescaut”, is honoured with high recognition after the premiere this Tuesday:
Photo credit: Ali Wright
“[…] Paul Carey Jones’s Lescaut winningly confident […]”
The Guardian
“[…] Top of the tree for focused characterisation is Paul Carey Jones as Manon’s brother, Lescaut: hideously shifty, but sterling fun with his piercing tones and flouncy gestures. […]”
The Times
“[…] and Paul Carey Jones, impressively resonant, makes the slimy Lescaut almost too engaging. […]”
The Stage
“[…] Her brother Lescaut, who introduces her to a more lavish lifestyle, is well sung by baritone Paul Carey Jones, but this complex character, part pimp part protector, is undefined. […]”
Culture Whisper
Tickets for today, 7 June until 26 June 2019 are still available here!