Massenet:Manon - Complete Ballet

This is an excellent recording of this amazing ballet. Unfortunately, the Ballet of Manon is compilation of many works by Massenet which makes it almost impossible to find on a CD. Other than this recording, the only place to hear this music is at one of the major ballet theaters in the world.

Fortunately, the conductor, Richard Bonynge, has conducted this CD in the manner which it is performed at many theaters in the world. The tempos are excellent both as a symphony and as a ballet. To have handled the tempos any better for ballet (using Rubato) Bonynge would have had to have dancers (Bocca and Ferri) performing this in front of him. Short of that, this is excellent.

I highly recommend this and was very happy to finally own it,
Erik
Professional Dancer

This ballet is composed of music by the great French opera composer Jules Massenet. The music is very melodic and quite beautiful. Its beauty is enhanced by the superb conducting of Richard Bonynge. Unlike the previous reviewer, I feel that Bonynge is very gifted in his ability to conduct concert versions of ballets at tempos that enhance their beauty. If you like ballet music of the Romantic period -- or simply beautiful music of any genre -- please treat yourself to this outstanding 2 CD set.

I have been an avid collector of ballet scores for over 30 years. I recall reading a synopsis of MacMillan's "Manon" ballet in my Balanchine's Book of Ballet Stories. As a big fan of Massenet's opera "Manon" in particular and his music in general, I have always wanted to hear this score, so when a copy on Amazon became available at a good price, I snatched it up.

Unfortunately, I found this rather disappointing. Leighton Lucas, who arranged and orchestrated the score, manages to select some of Massenet's most dull and unimpressive music. He utilized NOTHING from Massenet's "Manon" - which richly describes the passion and pathos of its heroine, as well as evoking the charm and elegance of the 18th century. There are no gavottes here, no minuets, nor are the pas de deuxs remotely laced with passionate, romantic music the like of which graces every moment of the opera "Manon" or even "Thais" for that matter.
Lucas seems to be enamored of Massenet's Spanish-inspired music, which seems out of place here. For example, the music depicting the inn at Amiens has a distinctive Spanish flair - hardly evocative of a lively French inn yard of the eighteenth century. Massenet's actual ballet offerings also appear to be ignored; I only spotted a few pieces from the Thais ballet music and a waltz from "The Queen of Lahore". I surmise that hard core Massenet fans may probably find more tucked away in this score, but what IS utilized is rather lackluster and dull. The final act plays like Muzak; if one does not know the story, one would be hard-pressed to realize that at this point, the characters are experiencing separation, near rape, indentured servitude and death.
This is fine to play in the background during dinner or in the kitchen while cooking, but if I want to hear rip-roaring passion, I'll get out my various recordings of Massenet's operas, suites and symphonic works and have at it.