Dame Gwyneth Jones, Athens 1996

After many years of yearning, i finally found one of my Holy Grails! Dame Gwyneth in Athens, and one of the most beautiful opera-nights of my life! Dame Gwyneth was absolutely amazing and sang the most difficult repertoire. Unfortunately, i cannot find the program-book of the Recital so i can't provide you with details on the pianist or the exact date but i m sure that i ll find it...

The sound is mediocre and distant but it is listenable and its all we have! Dont expect the quality that Parsifal offers you..heheh.
Dame Jones sings Tannhauser, Wesendonck lieder, Elektra, Ariadne, some Strauss lieder but also Turandot, Tosca and Forza

So, here it is, at 3.00 pm sharp, Dame Gwyneth Jones in Athens

Enjoy, say thanks and write a comment!

The Mother's Ring, Athens 2005

Parsifal has taken the day off! And instead of watching Prison Break (hehehe) i uploaded a recording of a greek opera from the Athens Lyric:

Here is an opera that i m sure that quite a few ever had the chance to listen to. Its a work by the greek composer Manolis Kalomiris. If you 're fond of the carrer of La Divina, you might remember that during her greek career, she sang a work by Manolis Kalomiris called "O Protomastoras". Manolis Kalomiris uses many folk tunes in his operas and the result is operas a la maniere de Janacek... It s really a pity that his works are not widely known to the public. I personally believe that works like this one, are masterpieces equal to works like Jenufa or the Bartered Bride etc. The last few years in Greece there was a new wave of re-descovering these pieces of Kalomiris, Samaras, Carrer or other greek composers. In this "fashion" there have been performances of works like RHEA (with Dimitra Theodossiou singing the role of Rhea- a recording is available) or Marathon-Salamis, and in 2005, an amazing performance of the Mother's Ring with the renowned greek mezzo Markella Hatziano singing the role of the Mother. More about Manolis Kalomiris AND the libretto in both Greek (with latin letters so that everybody can read it) and English translation can be found on the official website about Manolis Kalomiris HERE
It's an in-house recording and i would suggest to all to download and listen to this unknown work!

The Mother's Ring / To Daxtylidi tis Manas

Mana/Mother: Markela Hatziano
Yannakis: Yannis Hristopoulos
Sotiris: Dionisis Sourbis
Erofili: Vassiliki Karayanni
Kyriakos: Yannis Yannisis
Kyra/Mistress: Sofia Kyanidou

Maestro: Vassilis Hristopoulos
Greek National Opera
Greek National Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Athens 2 January 2005

Cd1 HERE

Cd2 in 2 parts that you ll have to join with HJsplit Part1 Part2

After hundreds of calls by our spectators, here it is: An Hommage to Marilyn Horne

Well, first of all, did you know that Marilyn Horne had been related to Nicola Zaccaria, the great greek bass? Strange couple, huh?

Second, did you know that some 15 years ago (or was it more?) Marilyn appeared in the Odeon Of Herodes Atticus of Athens, sang "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" and then announced that she couldnt sing 'cause of the heat (it was August in Athens i suppose), and cause of the pollution (well, it's a 12 months a year situation in Athens) and she left the stage... I would really like to find a recording of this...heheh

For all coloratura-dark voiced spectacularly-unbelievable-mezzos-addicts, here are a couple of things with dear old Marilyn.

Gioacchino Rossini
SEMIRAMIDE

Semiramide- Montserrat Caballé
Arsace- Marilyn Horne
Assur- James Morris
Idreno- Dalmacio Gonzalez
Azema- Candace Kahn
Oroe- Eric Halfvarson
Mitrane- Jonathan Green
Ghost of Nino- Gregory Stapp

Conducted by Richard Bonynge

San Francisco Opera
Saturday, September 26 1981

1 link only! HERE

(i would give my right hand to be in this performance...i m left handed).


AND here is what i consider to be the OLYMPUS of the Rossini interpretation:

MARILYN HORNE Recital
Milano 30/4/1971
1. Semiramide: Ah! Quel giorno ognor rammento.
2. Otello: Canzone del salice e preghiera
3. La Donna del Lago: Tanti affetti
4. Tancredi: Di tanti palpiti
5. Cenerentola: Nacqui all`affanno
6. L`Italiana in Algeri: Cruda sorte
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano della RAI
Conductor: ?
Bonus: CESARE SIEPI: La calunnia e un venticello. Piano: Leo Taubmann (Salzburg 1956)

HERE

Magda Olivero 's 97th Birthday!

Today it's Magda Olivero's Birthday! She 's turning 97!!! Magda, one of the 20st Century vocal legends is one of the most under-recorded sopranos of her era and like Leyla Gencer she is a creation of the pirates as the Record Companies never gave her the chance to record her greatest roles.
The last time Magda's voice has been recorded -to my knowledge- was in 2006, in a Mass in Italy (Solda, Chiesa di San Gertrude, Italy, august 15th 2006) , aged 96 and believe me, she sounds amazing (she sounds 76..heheh. I'm not kidding, she made her MET debut singing Tosca in 1975 at the age of 65!). I will try to find this extremely hard-to-find recording in my archive and upload it.
Till then ,

HAAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGDA!

Rolando Villazón is doing it the greek way...!

Rolando Villazon is the Everest of today tenors for me! He s got this great baritonal, Domingo-like voice, he s an amazing actor and entertainer (you have to see him in concert to understand!) and he looks like a good guy! BUT Rolando was missing from this blog so i thought i should upload something really weird...And here it is, Rolando singing greek music and greek poetry in greek!

"Greece: Poetry in Music will feature modern poetry by acclaimed Greek poets C.P. Cavafy, George Seferis, 1963 Nobel Prize Winner, and Odysseas Elytis, 1979 Nobel Prize Winner. The poets' literary works have been set to music by Greece's most prominent composers, including Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, Dimitris Laghios, Dimitris Papadimitriou and Spyros Samaras, composer of the Olympic Anthem. Presenting their works will be the National Symphony Orchestra of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation-ERT, led by conductors Andreas Pylarinos and Mo Steven White; Mexican lyric tenor Rolando Villazon; and Greek soloists Foteini Darra, Tasos Apostolou, and Andreas Smyrnakis".

This is a part of the info on this concert given on the 25th of October at the Conference Hall of the United Nations in New York and organised by the Greek government.

The concert has been telecast in Greece and i managed to rip off the audio of Rolando's great performance.

First part: he s singing 3 greek songs (in greek) by composers Hadjidakis, Theodorakis
Second Part:More songs-in english- and also an aria from Samara's opera RHEA-in italian.
Bis: Granada (well, that's not really greek....heheh)

Rolando Villazon – Jonathan Kelly piano

1. Me tin proti stagona tis vrohis
Music by Manos Hadjidakis
Poem by Odysseas Elytis (Nobel Prize 1979)

2. Kratisa ti zoi mou
Music by Mikis Theodorakis
Poem by Yorgos Seferis (Nobel prize, 1963)

3. Meres tou 1903
Music, Manos Hadjidakis
Poem by Constantinos P. Kavafis

Second part
4. O Yenaris tou 1904
Music by Dimitris Papadimitriou
Poem by C.P. Kavafis

5. Epestrefe
Music by D. Papadimitriou
Poem by Kavafis
6. O Dekemvris tou 1903
Music by D. Papadimitriou
Poem by Kavafis

7. Ouverture from RHEA
Music by Spyro Samaras

8. Aria of Lyssias from RHEA
Music by Spyro Samaras

9. Granada (I think you all know what this is).

Greek Radio Orchestra and Chorus.

Download HERE

The Athens metro is soooo sexy the last few days...

For just 29,90 euro!!! Thank you Mrs Ciccone-Richie. H&M used to be my favourite store during my student days in Barcelona...

Its a fact! Nixon in Athens!

This is a billboard in the Athens metro...Hmm...

Don Pasquale, Florez, Raimondi, Rey VIDEO

Drama-buffo en 3 actes sur un livret de G. Donizetti & Giovanni
Ruffini, Musique de Gaetano Donizetti

Orchestre/orchestra & chœur/chorus Opera House Zurich - Direction/
conductor : Nello Santi - Avec/with Ruggero Raimondi (Don Pasquale),
Juan-Diego Florez (Ernesto), Isabel Rey (Norina), Oliver Widmer
(Dottor Malatesta)

Réalisaiton/director : Felix Breisach- Mise en scène : rischa
Asagaroff - Décors et Costumes : Luigi Perego

5 links only and you ll get a complete performance of Pasquale in very good sound/image

1
2
3
4
5

AGNES IS SINGING ISABELLA IN ATHENS NEXT YEAR!!!

Its definite! As my sources have commented me, the Athens Megaron is gonna host Jean Pierre Ponelle's famous mise-en-scene of L' Italiana in Algeri during the 2007-8 season...! I suppose there s gonna be a double cast and we already know one of the Isabellas...
I dont propose that Baltsa aged 60+ is today an ideal Isabella (well, for me she used to be the ideal Isabella in the Italiana that you will find uploaded on this blog...) BUT for those who always wanted to watch the magnificent Ponelle Italiana its a GREAT oportunity!
OHHHH and people from the MEGARON, pleeeease, we want JUAN DIEGO FLOREZ live in Athens next to Agnes!!!!!! Pleaaaaaase? thanks....

Elektra, Athens 1st of March

Nadine Secunde and Inga Nielsen,
photo from the rehearsals.

hi all
this is the premiere of ELEKTRA at the Athens Megaron. The recording is (almost) perfect...some coughing every now and then but nothing particularly annoying... HIGHLY recommended as this, the premiere, is by far the BEST among this series of performances (and believe me, i have recordings of all 4 performances...),

Cast:

Klytaemnestra: Agnes Baltsa (don't blame me, the Megaron site gives the cast with Baltsa's name first)
Elektra: Nadine Secunde
Chrysothemis: Inga Nielsen
Aegisth: Arild Helleland
Orest: Harry Peeters

Overseer: Julia Sougklakou
Serving women: Maria Vlahopoulou, Maria Mitsopoulou, Eleni Liona
The rest of the serving women and rest of the cast unkown.

Athens State Orchestra
Conductor: Johan Arnell
Athens, Megaron, 1st of March 2007

CD1
CD2

Enjoy!

A review on Agnes...

VIENNA – Fiftieth Anniversary Gala of Wiener Staatsoper Reopening, Wiener Staatsoper, 11/5/05

No star burned brighter than that of Agnes Baltsa, stunningly coiffed and gowned, looking and sounding half her age as Amneris to the amber-hued Radamès of Plácido Domingo. Domingo may no longer have a complete Radamès in him, but he carefully husbanded his resources for a performance unforgettable for its intensity alongside Baltsa’s securely sung, imperious princess. Of the evening’s conductors, only Daniele Gatti seemed to actually be leading a performance, cueing singers and individual musicians, gently caressing Verdi’s vocal line and raging in the fury of the Nile scene.
Opera News.

ps. The foto is actually from that night

Gorgeous, isn't he?

Dmitri signing for me in his dressing room...
Athens 16 March 2007

AAAAAND HERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO DMITRI LIVE IN ATHENS (FIRST PART ONLY)

Tonight i had an encounter with God (or was it the devil?)

Thank you Dmitri for this unforgettable night! Thank you for the incredible Songs and Dances of Death (Mussorgsky), thank you for the amazing Rachmaninof, thank you for the most beautiful Iago's Credo....

Les Paladins, or else The most beautiful paranoia!

As you may have noticed by my posts, i m not really into old music...Some Handel, some Vivaldi, lately i ve fallen for Jaroussky's voice but that's all. So i was not really expecting what i saw/heard/felt on the 12 of July of 2006 when Les Paladins premiered in Athens! (These were 2 reaaaaly happy days of my life as the next night i would watch at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus my beloved Diana Krall).
The following recording is of the Opening Night, in excellent sound! It s highly recommended for downloading...

The Athens Megaron, 12th of July 2006

Cd1
Cd2

Cast info to come...

Nadja Michael as Salome at La Scala 6.3.2007

Here are some fotos of my dearest Nadja Michael in the new production of Salome at La Scala! Next to her Iris Vermillion as Herodias, Peter Bronder as Herodes and Falk Struckmann as Jochanaan.

Anna Netrebko sings Elettra

Anna Netrebko sings the wonderful Elettra's aria from Mozart's Idomeneo during the special concert: MOZART AT 250: THE SALZBURG FESTIVAL CELEBRATION premiered on September 26, 2006

Download HERE

Al sacro fiume io vo, colla t' aspetta l' ombra mia...

Here's a video that contains excerpts of La Divina at La Scala acting in Medea! Also some backstage, interviews etc. For the Callas-maniacs who do not already have this video...this is a must.Its about 5 min. 30''. Download here

Just a suggestion...

Δεν ξέρω τι μ' εχει πιάσει απόψε αλλα παρ'οτι ειναι 2.20 περίπου και κοντεύω να πέσω νεκρός απο την κούραση, εγώ μένω ξύπνιος ακούγοντας το εκπληκτικό cd του Μιχάλη Δέλτα Forbidden Poetry...Είναι άραγε τυχαίο οτι 2 απο τα νέα cd που πιο πολύ με συγκίνησαν φέτος, ανήκουν σε 2 τέως Στέρεο Νόβα; Το πρωτο, η μουσική του Κωνσταντίνου Βήτα απο το (εντυπωσιακό, συγκινητικό και πολλά ακόμη επίθετα) "2" του Δημ. Παπαιωάννου και το δεύτερο αυτό... Είναι πολύ περίεργο το οτι αυτοί οι δύο δημιουργοί καταφέρνουν να δημιουργήσουν τοσο ενδιαφέροντα μουσικά περιβάλλοντα με τόσο απλή μουσική ξεφεύγοντας απο μινιμαλιστικές μανιέρες και δημιουργώντας κάτι τόσο μοναδικό...Θέλω να έρθει το καλοκαίρι μόνο και μόνο (λέμε τώρα...) για να ακούσω αυτα τα 2 cd σε έρημες παραλίες (ίσως και στο Πήλιο το Πασχα!). Και ναι, για να μην αναρωτιέστε...όντως είμαι in love (εδω και κανα χρόνο...).

ps. Είστε στο σωστό blog, μη σπεύσετε να ελέγξετε το URL σας...απλά είπα να ξεφύγω λίγο απο την οπερατική μονομανία.

No Dimitra, no party.

I was checking Dimitra Theodossiou's calendar for the next year but i saw no Athens included...What the f***??? Dimitra is singing all around Europe but not in Athens? grrrrr....Anyway, i dont think that there is a lot of space in the 2007/8 cartellone of the Greek National Opera for Dimitra: What is almost certain for next year is Tanhauser (no comment), Tancredi, Boheme and the repetition of Nabucco with Guleghina, this time at the Athens Megaron (yes, same production, Nazis, ninja and Xena, all blended). Hmmmm...what about watching Dimitra as Abigaille there? Who knows, but i m quite sure that none of the two Divas will agree to sing second cast. Anyway, if I could choose an opera for next season, that would definitely be Roberto Devereux. Wonderful piece, really exciting and with Dimitra its THRILLING! (Well, i wouldnt say no to a Roberto with Edita but i find Dimitra's interpretation more convincing). Soooo, in order to justify what i say, here is some proof:
One of the Greatest Elisabettas ever, in the League of Gencer, Sills, Caballe, Gruberova, here is Dimitra Theodossiou singing the last 15 minutes of Roberto Devereux (Vivi 'ngrato-Quel sangue..)

Enjoy this great recording HERE

Ancona, 22 January 2006.... ;)

Speak of the devil...

Agnes Baltsa is about to give a recital on the 26th of March in Athens next to Angelo Simo (yes, this is the "international" name of Vangelis Hadjisimos) whom i do not really appreciate. I have seen him live many times but i can only remember 2 times when i really liked him: In Ballo in Maschera about 14 years ago in Athens and as Peter Grimes a couple of years ago. Anyway, i would go to listen to Agnes even if she was singing next to Florence Foster Jenkins (!!!).

What i have uploaded for you here is the recital Agnes Baltsa gave in Athens in 2003!

Agnes Baltsa, Athens, Megaron, March 2, 2003

Venge-moi d' une supreme offense - Herodiade, Massenet
Ah! mon fils, sois beni - Le prophete, Meyerbeer
Va!Laisse couler mes larmes - Werther, Massenet
Carreau, pique!....la mort - Carmen, Bizet
Je vais mourir - Le Troyens, Berlioz
Tu sola o mia Giulietta - I Capuletti e i Montecchi, Bellini
Nell Giardin del bello... - Don Carlo, Verdi
Voi lo sappete, o mamma - Cavalleria Rusticana

Bis
Habanera
Pres de remparts de Seville - Carmen
O mio babbino caro- Gianni Schicchi, Puccini

Athens State Orchestra, Nikos Athineos, cond.

The sound is good, a bit of a hiss included.
I hope you enjoy!

Download HERE

Aida: Marina Krilovici and Irina Arkhipova set San Francisco on fire!

Alma asked for recordings with Marina Krilovici from her days of glory, back in the 70's when she and the late Kostas Paskalis (her husband then) were singing in all the major Opera Houses of the planet. I am a collector of Kostas Paskalis' recordings but i also collect recordings of Marina Krilovici and i have many interesting stuff with Marina (Don Carlo, Tosca, Forza, Manon Lescaut, Fedora etc). What i offer you here is an extremely rare AIDA that i personally gave to mrs Krilovici last year...It's not DDD of course, the sound is mediocre BUT it features an amazing cast and above all a magnificent Aida and a tremendous Amneris: the legendary Irina Arkhipova. Its in-house, the sound quality is variable, but don't judge by how it beggins, the sound gets a lot better afterwards

AIDA
San Francisco 24 November 1972

Marina Krilovici-Aida
Irina Arkhipova-Amneris
Richard Casily-Radames
Norman Mittelmann-Amonasro
Simon Estes-Ramfis

Jesus Lopez Cobos

2 split files, use HJsplit to join them. 192kbps

part1

part2

Primadonna!

This is the first commercial cd you ll find on this blog but it is long out of print-i ve checked on every amazon available. Its a Concert given at the Piazza di San Marco - Venezia 15years ago. It features great stars such as Scotto, Serra, Devia, Dessi, Gasdia etc. Its highly recommended especially for the Lucia Mad Scene sung by Mariella Devia.

VENEZIA, Piazza San Marco 24 June 1991

1. Tu che le vanita - Don Carlo - Daniella Dessi
2. Ardon gli incensi - Lucia - Mariella Devia
3. Al dolce guidami - Bolena - Cecilia Gasdia
4. Io son l umile ancella - Adriana Lecouvreur - Raina Kabaivanska
5. Intermezzo - J.Strauss - Una notte a Venezia
6. Ebben? - Wally - Katia Ricciarelli
7. Der Holle Roche - Zauberfloete - Luciana Serra
8. Chanson Boheme - Carmen - Lucia Valentini Terrani
9. Bondi cara Venezia - Il Campiello (Wolf- Ferrari) - Renata Scotto
10. Tutte insieme - Barcarolle (Les Contes d' Hoffmann)
Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice
Daniel Oren

Excellent sound. Ripped at 192kbps

Download HERE
and send me your comments and requests

Juan Diego Florez rules!!!! Yes, i know, i ve said it a thousand times.

Ok, its the truth, i can't live without listening to Juan Diego's voice! I own a huge collection of his recordings (mainly pirate in-house recordings...you know me...) and dvds and i have spent many many days listening to his Idreno in Semiramide, Tonio in La Fille du regiment, Almaviva in Barbiere etc! I just can't live without his absolutely fantastic high C's! You can find me driving on the Kifissias Ave. listening to "Ah mes amies" over and over again, to the highest possible volume (well, Florez is a defeaning experience). But Juan Diego is not only High C's! He is a very sensitive singer that can bring tears to your eyes interpretating roles like Nemorino in L'Elisir d'amore. And as today i am in a very "sensitive" mood, i started my day with Juan Diego singing Una furtiva Lacrima. Mafniiiiiificeeeeent!
Here it is for you all: Juan Diego singing Nemorino at Las Palmas de Las Canarias

L' Elisir d'Amore
Nemorino: Juan Diego Florez
Adina: Laura Giordano
Dulcamara: Alfonso Antoniozzi
Belcore: Jose Julian Frontal
Gianetta: Davinia Rodriguez

Orchestra Filarmonica di Gran Canaria
Dir. Riccardo Frizza
Teatro Cuyas, Las Palmas 16 april 2005
In-house recording, great sound

CD1

CD2

Manon, Vienna 3rd of March 2007

As promised, here is a great digital recording of a MANON given in Vienna a couple of days ago. The "hot couple" of the pic are Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna... I m not really into Alagna (well actually i enjoyed myself big time the incident at La Scala with the booeing and what followed) but i have to admit that he is really good singing the french repertoire (Faust, Romeo, Des Grieux, Cyrano etc) . Netrebko is a quite good singer that has also got the looks....And as the Austrian press commented the day after the premiere, she was a spectacular Manon!
So, here it is. I hope you enjoy:

Manon
J. Massenet
Vienna 3.3.2007

Anna Netrebko (Manon)
Roberto Alagna (Des Grieux)
Ain Anger (Graf Des Grieux)
Adrian Erφd (Lescaut)
Michael Roider (Guillot de Morfontaine)
In-Sung Sim (Brιtigny)
Simina Ivan (Poussette)
Sophie Marilley (Javotte)
Juliette Mars (Rosette)
Hans Peter Kammerer (Wirt)
Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor Bertrand de Billy

CD1
CD2
CD3

CORRECTED LINKS
Read a review about the premiere of Manon here

Dimitra Theodossiou is the major Norma on the planet!

Dimitra is one of my favourite singers...She excells in early Verdi but also in the bel canto repertoire and especially the Queens of Donizetti. She has already sang Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux and her performance as Anna Bolena has been globally renowned! BUT, among all her famous roles, Norma owns a very special place in my heart. I first watched her as Norma in 1999 in a quite good production of the Greek National Opera! She was magnificent! She wasn't very famous then and she was singing second cast to Nelly Miricioiu (who was also great). And the public was not prepared to listen to such a great interpretation! I remember the public going wild after the finale of Act 1! Dimitra interpolated a high E flat at the end of the ensemble that was given with such great power, you wouldnt believe your ears! SO, what you got here is actually a piece of history ; ) . Its Dimitra Theodossiou singing the Norma Act 1 Finale in Athens on the 14th of May 1999! Next to her, Angelo Simo (Vangelis Hatzisimos) as Pollione and Mary Ellen Nesi as Adalgisa.

Absolutely essential!!! Don't miss it!

NormaFinale Act 1 HERE

I love Teresa Stratas!

I was watching a video about Teresa Stratas' life tonight and i remembered how much i adore Teresa Stratas! During the video, Teresa actually speaks greek, sings a μαντινάδα (!!) and talks about the greek way of life, her immigrant parents, the poverty of her childhood, her trips to India, and the years she spent helping Mother Teresa for the dying children in Calcutta etc while we see her rehearsing La Boheme with Franco Zeffirelli....Try to find this video! It is called StrataSphere but it seems to be really hard to find on amazon etc...

If you re Nabucco addicts, or you 've just watched Nucci and Guleghina live, try this.

As a tribute for the spectacular night they offered to the greek public, here s a Nabucco they both sang in Barcelona in 2006!

NABUCCO

Barcelona, May 21 2006

Nabucco: Leo Nucci
Abigaille: Maria Guleghina
Zaccaria: Giacomo Prestia
Ismaele: Aquiles Machado
Fenena: Joyce di Donato
Sacerdote: Wayne Tigges
Abdallo: Josep Fadó
Anna: Serena Daolio

Conductor: Nello Santi


http://rapidshare.com/files/6604802/NABUCCO_BARNA_210506_-_I.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/6604617/NABUCCO_BARNA_210506_-_II.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/6605600/NABUCCO_BARNA_210506_-_III.rar

Enlaces prestados (sin permiso, jejeje) por Cappuccilli de HispaOpera...supongo q me perdonará.

Nabucco, Athens March the 2nd, 2007

This is my only comment on these two divine singers that set the Athens Lyric on fire on the night of the 2nd of March...

Per request: Francesca Patane as a nuuuude Salome

For Naive....Francesca Patane in Rome 2006/7

And the beat goes on...

No, this is not a foto of a hooker and her pimp! Its actually Anja Netrebko and Roberto Alagna during the rehearsals of the upcoming MANON at the Vienna Staatsoper...No further comments but in a few days i ll be back with a recording of this Manon...