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Title: A very moving production of Manon
Review: David McVicar is one of my most favorite opera directors. For my taste, this is one of his most successful creations. Stage design is quite simple but very effective. Costumes are colorful. Dessay is a wonderful Manon. Her rendition of the `table aria' is maybe the most beautiful I have heard. Villazon sounds a bit strained in places (like his act III aria `Ah! fuyez, douce image' - this was the last production he participated before his half year break) but in general his singing is beautiful, like the outstanding rendering of his act II aria `En fermant les yeux'. They are both excellent actors. All the other singers are very good, with the exception of Sam Ramey whose vibrato is quite painful to my ears (but luckily his role is short).Highly recommended!!
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