On June 15, 17 and 21, 2017, exactly one year after her shattering and highly acclaimed portrayal of another Puccini heroine, Suor Angelica, María José Siri will return to the Teatro San Carlo of Naples in the title role of Manon Lescaut, in a new Davide Livermore production under the musical direction of Maestro Daniel Oren. Alongside her, Roberto Aronica will sing the role of Renato Des Grieux, Alessandro Luongo that of her brother Lescaut and Carlo Striuli will be Geronte Ravoir.

The Uruguayan soprano feels very close to the role: “ Vocally I feel very comfortable as Manon, which, though very demanding, is a lot of fun to perform. It is a very elaborate score, where passion dominates in a very visceral form. In Manon Lescaut Puccini is very symphonic, and I can distinctly feel a great theatrical composer who manages to convey in a very direct manner emotions such as as passion and desires, which are the soul of this opera. The role offers many chances to shine, with its many opportunities to engage in mezze voci and pianissimos; and I feel that the personality of the protagonist herself is very different from all the other Puccini’s heroines.”

When asked about this Livermore production, the soprano replies: “Maestro Livermore has set the action in the late 19th century, to emphasize the issue of women’s immigration to Ellis Island in search of a better life in the new continent. Very often, however this “better life” was nothing more than an illusion: so many of them died during on the ship – including the wife of my great-grandfather – while others became victims of sexual exploitation in the “new world”. Not much has changed since them: only that now the nationality of all these modern refugees is different.”

Engagements this year after this Naples Manon Lescaut will lead María José Siri to the Macerata Opera Festival (Madama Butterfly), the Arena of Verona (Aida), the Santander Festival (Verdi Messa da Requiem), the Gran Teatre del Liceu (Un ballo in maschera), the Teatro alla Scala (Messa per Rossini), the Vienna State Opera (Madama Butterfly) and the Palau de les Arts of Valencia (Don Carlo).

Information about Manon Lescaut at the Teatro San Carlo Naples:

Manon Lescaut: Maria José Siri (15, 17 e 21 giugno) / Ainhoa Arteta (16, 18 e 20 giugno)

Renato Des Grieux: Roberto Aronica / Murat Karahan

Lescaut: Alessandro Luongo

Geronte Ravoir; Carlo Striuli

Edmondo: Francesco Marsiglia / David Ferri Durà

Un Musico: Clarissa Leonardi / Miriam Artiaco

Il maestro di ballo; Cristiano Olivieri

Un sergente degli arcieri: Angelo Nardinocchi

Il comandante di marina: Costantino Finucci

Un Lampionaio: Enzo Peroni

Davide Livermore (stagedirectori), Daniel Oren (conductor)

Performances:

June 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 2017

[Photo by Laura Ferrari]