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Opera – Manon LescautOpera – Manon Lescaut
Opera

Manon Lescaut

Giacomo Puccini

Premieres: 27 and 29 March 2025 at the State Opera

The State Opera
Premiere production
English surtitles

Choose date

  • March 2025
  • April 2025
    March 2025

    Thursday 27. 3.
    19:00

    Tickets available

    1. premiere
    Premiere
    Premiere production
    English surtitles

    Saturday 29. 3.
    19:00

    Tickets available

    2. premiere
    Premiere
    Premiere production
    English surtitles
    April 2025

    Sunday 13. 4.
    19:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    Premiere production
    English surtitles

    Wednesday 23. 4.
    19:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    Premiere production
    English surtitles

    Basic information

    Venue

    The State Opera

    Language

    In Italian, surtitles in Czech, English

    Premiere

    March 27, 2025

    Love, or money? Luxury, or passion?

    Cast

    • 2024-2025

    Creatives

    Stage director
    Sláva Daubnerová
    Light design
    Daniel Tesař
    Choreography / Movement coach
    Jan Adam
    Chorus master
    Adolf Melichar

    About

    State Opera Chorus
    State Opera Orchestra
    National Theatre Opera Ballet

    A life with the wealthy Geronte would offer the pretty Manon luxury, yet it would be devoid of passion. And great passion is what Manon enjoys with the poverty-stricken Chevalier Renato des Grieux. She must make a choice. Failing to do so is fateful for her …

    The 1893 opera Manon Lescaut was Giacomo Puccini’s first triumph. Abounding in splendid melodies, the music renders intense emotions, from fervid love in the duet between Des Grieux and Manon in Act 2 to crushing despair of the lonesome Manon in the aria “Sola, perduta, abbandonata”.

    The libretto is based on Abbé Prévost’s novel Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux, et de Manon Lescaut, issued in 1731 in Paris. Puccini was mesmerised by the book, yet his publisher, Ricordi, tried to dissuade him from setting it, pointing out that the story had already been adapted as an opera, Jules Massenet’s wildly popular Manon. Puccini, however, stuck to his guns, reasoning that “a woman like Manon can have more than one lover”.

    Despite its difficult gestation (the text was patched together by five librettists), he created an opera whose premiere, on 1 February 1893 in Turin, enraptured the audience and critics alike. Puccini’s Manon Lescaut received its first performance in Bohemia on 24 April 1894 at the National Theatre in Prague. The Neues deutsches Theater (today’s State Opera) followed suit on 1 November 1923, with the production conducted by Alexander Zemlinsky, who at the time served as director of its opera company.

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    Practical information

    Where to buy tickets

    The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in October 2024 – March 2025.


    When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.

    What to wear?

    By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.

    Parking at the State opera

    While visiting the State Opera, you can take the slip road on Wilsonova street from the left lane close to the State Opera building to the Parking Centrum above-ground garage. The parking fee is 60 CZK/h.

    Buffets at the State Opera

    No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!

    Menu (PDF, 60 kB)