WNO - Boulevard Solitude

The Welsh National Opera's Boulevard Solitude, seems to bring the classical tale of Orpheus and Eurydice into modern France. It is the oldest story in the book. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl keeps slipping from boy's grasp and finally boy loses girl completely... 

As part of WNO's Fallen Women season, Boulevard Solitude, is a modern opera, performed in English that tells the story of Mannon Lescaut (Sarah Tynan), who falls in love with a student, Armand des Grieux (Jason Bridges).Tragically the two can never be together as Manon's brother Lescaut (Benjamin Bevan) is constantly using his sister as a tool to seduce rich men while he steals from them. 

I am never going to be completely comfortable in the audience of an opera but I definitely came close watching this one. It may have been the classicist in me but I found the plot riveting.The way the story reveals the end first and then fills in the gaps was particularly impressive and helped with the general understanding of the plot -for someone who struggles to understand opera. If you have never seen an opera before but would like to, this is definitely a good one to start with. 

Cast: Armand des Grieux - Jason Bridges                    Actors: Justyna Biabwas

          Manon Lescaut - Sarah Tynan                                            Katarzyna Holtra

          Lescaut- Benjamin Bevan                                                   Joanna Jeffries

          Monsieur Lilaque - Adrian Thompson                               Gordon Brandie

          Francis - Alistair Moore                                                      Michal Ciecka

          Young Lilaque - Laurence Cole                                           Nicholas Keegan

          Mr Man - Tomaz Wygoda                                                   Ashley James Orwin

Click here to find out more about WNO's Fallen Women Seaon

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