On March 31, 2019 María José Siri will sing the title role in Manon Lescaut at the Teatro alla Scala under the musical direction of Riccardo Chailly in the premiere of a new production by David Pountney. This will be the first time that the original version of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, which was rewritten more or less significantly several times after its premiere at the Teatro Regio of Turin in 1893 until being finalized by the composer in 1923, will be presented to the audience at La Scala. María José Siri will share the stage with Marcelo Álvarez / Roberto Aronica as Des Grieux, Massimo Cavalletti as Lescaut and Carlo Lepore as Geronte, among others.

With Manon Lescaut Siri, sings her second Puccini role at La Scala, where she previously caused an international sensation as the title role of in the premiere of a new Madama Butterfly production at the 2016/2017 season opening, which was also conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Siri was first heard as Manon Lescaut in 2014 in Montevide, and since then has sung the role at houses such as the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, the Teatro Regio in Turin, the Grand Théâtre in Geneva and at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.

In June 2019, Maria José Siri will sing the role at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, under the musical direction of Sir Simon Rattle.

Information on Manon Lescaut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan:

Manon Lescaut: María José Siri; Des Grieux: Marcelo Álvarez / Roberto Aronica; Lescaut: Massimo Cavalletti; Geronte: Carlo Lepore; Edmondo/Maestro di ballo/Lampionaio: Marco Ciaponi/Alessandro Scotto Di Luzio; L’Oste: Emanuele Cordaro; Un musico: Alessandra Visentin; Sergente degli Arcieri: Daniele Antonangeli; Un comandante di marina: Gianluca Breda; Musici: Barbara Lavarian, Roberta Salvati, Silvia Spruzzola, Julija Samnsonova, Maria Miccoli

Riccardo Chailly, conductor; David Pountney, stage director

Performances: 31 March; 3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, 24, 27 April 2019

[Photo: Brescia/Amisano – Teatro alla Scala]