Postgraduate Researchers

PhD Research Student - Conservatoire

Project title: Puccini's Manon: an holistic approach to role preparation and execution

Project abstract:

The fulcrum of this thesis research is operatic role preparation and execution, an investigation into how the conscientious singer-actor can ‘become’ the character of ‘Manon’ in Giacomo Puccini’s 1893 opera, Manon Lescaut. Adopting a multi-stranded research strategy, encompassing traditional methodologies, a series of ‘lived experience’ interviews with international operatic practitioners, and a survey of live performances in 2023–2024, the actuality of performing this complex role will be considered, with recommendations and conclusions drawn from a multiplicity of sources.   

Chapter One reflects on the convergence of music and drama in Puccini’s operas via his correspondence appertaining to Manon Lescaut. The profile of the Puccini heroine is considered, alongside the phenomenon of the Pucciniana. Chapter Three explores the source material of the opera: Abbé Prévost’s L’histoire du Chevalier de Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. Further, Puccini’s treatment is placed within the context of the other operatic treatments of the Manon diegesis.  

 Chapter Four is a singer-actor’s musical analysis of significant junctures on Manon’s musical and psychological journey. Chapter Five surveys the early interpreters of the role of Manon globally, to identify Puccini’s specific vocal requirements for the role. Chapter Six focuses on the vocal challenges facing the interpreter, with potential solutions derived from the ‘lived experience’ interviewees.. Chapter Seven examines the role’s dramatic challenges and the differing dramatic systems, or methods, employed by the ‘lived experience’ interviewees, thereby providing a full record of performance practice in the role. Chapter Eight is a comparative survey of five productions of Manon Lescaut presented in 2023–2024, focusing on the title character. 

The ultimate aim of the research is to formulate a holistic strategy for future interpreters of Puccini’s Manon, demonstrating that an authentic conceptualization of the role can be achieved through rigorous advance preparation, which then enables the singer-actor to actualize their musical, vocal, and dramatic obligations, in performance.

Supervisors: Dr Rachel Talbot; Prof. Una Hunt; Dr Kerry Houston

Funder: Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Scholar 

Orchid Profile: 0000-0003-3565-4955