1969 / MANON / Massenet

MANON – MASSENET

Presented on Dec 9, 11, 13 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season

Mila Cova – Manon
Jon Piso – des Grieux
Elizeu Simulescu – Lescaut
Patrick Ring – Guillot
Helge Bömches – Count
Evan Thomas – Brétigny
Monica Condron – Pousette
Marjory McMichael – Javotte
Ruth Maher – Rosette

Napoleone Annovazzi – Conductor
Philippe Perrottet – Producer

Manon (excerpts) – Gaiety Theatre Dublin – 1969

A few audio fragments from this production have survived:

Act 2 (des Grieux’s solo “en fermant les yeux”)

Act 3 Scene 1: San Sulpice Scene from the opening ladies chorus through the Count’s aria “Épouse quelque brave fille” & des Grieux’s solo “Je suis seul … Ah fuyez!” through the choral “Magnificat” and the subseqent duet with Manon: “N’est ce plus ma main”

Act 3 Scene 2: Scene in the fashionable gambling house, including Manon’s celebrated Gavotte “Profitons bien de la jeunesse!” (runs as far as the entrance of Count des Grieux)

Choristers Brian Donlan, ??, Paul Kavenagh, Pousette (Monica Condron), ??, Rosette (Ruth Maher), John Carney and Javotte (Marjory McMichael) look on as des Grieux (Jon Piso – kneeling) sings to Manon (Mila Cova) during “Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969
Des Grieux (Jon Piso) and Manon (Mila Cova) during the Saint-Sulpice scene in”Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969
Choristers Terry Jenkins, Bob Hammond, John Carney and Tom Carney with Manon (Mila Cova) during the Cours-la-Reine scene in”Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969
Chorister Maura Devine relaxes backstage with Terry Jenkins during “Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969
Under the watchful glance of chorister Sylvia Whelan, Lescaut (Elizeu Simulescu) greets Manon (Mila Cova) during the opening scene in”Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969
Chorister Maura Devine in the ladies’ dressing room during “Manon” at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin in December 1969

Do YOU have any memories or materials (photos, clippings, recordings) of this production of “Manon”? We’d love to give them a permanent home – please make contact.