Damrau and Grigolo triumph in Pelly’s Manon

By Robert Levine, 11 March 2015

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“it sometimes looked like Grand Central Station at rush hour”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 9 March 2015

Massenet, Manon

Metropolitan Opera

Emmanuel Villaume, Conductor

Laurent Pelly, Director, Costume Designer

Chantal Thomas, Set Designer

Diana Damrau, Manon

Vittorio Grigolo, Le Chevalier Des Grieux

Russell Braun, Lescaut

Mireille Asselin, Poussette

Cecelia Hall, Javotte

Maya Lahyani, Rosette

Christophe Mortagne, Guillot de Morfontaine

Dwayne Croft, Monsieur de Brétigny

Nicolas Testé, Le Comte Des Grieux

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

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Robert Levine

Robert T. Levine is a New York born-and-bred music writer with a particular interest in music for the voice. His work has appeared in many periodicals and newspapers. He is the author of many books, including The Story of the Orchestra, four volumes in the Black Dog & Leventhal Opera Library, and, most recently, Maria Callas: A Musical Biography.

Damrau and Grigolo battle through Pelly’s Manon production... and win