Héroïnes et passions lyriques

Some characters endure through the centuries and inspire the greatest creators. Manon Lescaut, the heroine of Abbé Prévost’s novel, embodies fatal passion: loving and alluring, yet destined for tragedy. Soprano Sarah Dufresne brings this legendary figure to life through arias from two celebrated adaptations, by Auber and Massenet, tracing her psychological journey. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts the Orchestre Métropolitain in orchestral selections by Clémence de Grandval, a notable opera composer who carved out a place in what was then a predominantly male field. Two symphonic works by Tchaikovsky and Wagner then explore the tragic passions of Francesca da Rimini, a heroine of The Divine Comedy, and Isolde, Tristan’s legendary lover.