It was an extraordinary range of music and one felt as though Puccini was being channeled through Luisotti. They made the music shimmer, explode, and embrace the voices. He is such an appealing artist: full of energy, radiating the joy of being in music, and able to summon the greatest music from his instrument, the SF Opera Orchestra. Nicola Luisotti was SFO’s Music Director, 2009-2018. ![]() The Conductor was the first reason we chose to see this opera. ![]() Manon Lescaut (Lianna Haroutounian) meets Chevalier Des Grieux (Brian Jagde). ![]() Jagde is ardent, naive, and heroic with a soaring voice and powerful presence. Ms Haroutounian captures the pathos, silliness, beauty, and tragedy in Manon while fulfilling all that Pucinni could desire through her voice. The leads, Lianna Haroutounian, as Manon, and Brian Jagde, as Des Grieux, both made their role debuts. All of the performers were eye opening and heart rending in their characterizations and superb voices. It puts the “Grand” in its rightful place in “Grand Opera.” The Hedgehogs attended the matinee, Sunday, November 24, and still think about it, hear it and see it in the minds’ eyes and ears. ![]() Tonight, 11/26, is ( now “was”) this season’s last performance of Puccini’s first masterpiece, Manon Lescaut, at the San Francisco Opera.
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