Opera in four acts to a libretto by an anonymous author (those actually collaborating were Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Luigi Illica and Giulio Ricordi) from the novel “Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut” by Abbé Antoine-François Prévost. First performance: Turin, Teatro Regio, 1 February 1893.

It was Ferdinando Fontana, the librettist of the first two works, who suggested that Puccini should write an opera on this subject. But Casa Ricordi, in July, 1889, entrusted the task of writing the libretto to Marco Praga and Domenico Oliva.

he composition was delayed by constant requests for changes in the libretto, so much so that Praga abandoned the enterprise.

The librettist team was then joined by Ruggero Leoncavallo and finally Luigi Illica. Giulio Ricordi also contributed to defining the dramaturgy. During the course of preparation Puccini decided to completely eliminate the original Act II, the so-called “small house act”, which told the idyll of love between Manon and Des Grieux after escaping from Amiens.

he premiere was greeted with enthusiasm: a public triumph with great appreciation from the critics. The work, which can be considered to be Puccini’s first masterpiece, after some time, began to tour Italy, Europe and South America.

Puccini nevertheless continued to work on the score, making small and large changes, at least until the representation organized at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1923, the thirtieth anniversary of the premiere under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.