I had the absolute joy of seeing this version of "Manon Lescaut" on the stage at the Metropolitan Opera as it was actually being taped...which makes it all the more wonderful, because I can watch it on the screen, and remember being there as it happened.
Renata Scotto was easily one of the best singing actresses ever to grace the stage of the Met, and in this performance she absolutely outdid herself, singing as wonderfully as she acted, and looking adorable besides. Plus, she had the extra added benefit of appearing opposite Placido Domingo...a stunning Des Grieux, young and virile and incredibly handsome, with a voice of cream and gold.
The Met production was a wonder, only a bit of which translates well onto the videotape; this was still in the relatively primitive days of recording live performances. But for sheer dramatic thrill, and pure sonic sex, this "Manon Lescaut" cannot be beat.
The high point for me? Des Grieux's 3rd Act aria, "No, pazzo son! Guardate!" What the viewer cannot see on the video, unfortunately, because there was no way of doing a real close-up of the singer's face, were the tears that were actually streaming down Domingo's face as he pleaded with the captain to allow him to accompany Manon to her exile in America. I was sitting first row, dead center, right behind James Levine's waving arms, and with my opera glasses trained on Domingo's face, I can tell you that he was crying -- really crying. At the end of that act, the entire standing room only audience was cheering, laughing and crying right along with him...
Bravissimo, Domingo!!