Review

Giacomo Puccini
Intermezzo from the opera Manon Lescaut:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Trombone and piano

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and solo part.

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Manon Lescaut, composed between 1889 and 1892 is a story of ill-fated love and has a complicated plot. The Intermezzo is played between Acts 2 and 3: Manon has been arrested in Paris and is being deported to America. Des Grieux, who loves her, is following her to the port of Le Havre, and to ultimate tragedy. The music, basically in B minor, is intensely emotional and both melody and harmony are highly chromatic. There are many subtle changes of tempo and dynamics, which will require a good understanding between the two players and plenty of practice time.

The trombone part is given in tenor clef throughout; overall range is G-sharp-b¹. Cues to the piano part are given in treble or bass clef. An unspecified mute is indicated for the first 12 and last five measures. The final three measures are pp on low B, the piano now playing a chord of B major. There is still hope.