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Puccini’s Manon Lescaut

February 21, 2026, 12:00 pm

Mirella Freni in the title role of Puccini's "Manon Lescaut." (Photo: Met Archives)

The Metropolitan Opera continues their Artist’s Choice series: a run of episodes chosen from the Met Opera Archive by some of today’s leading opera stars. Today’s performance of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut from March 17, 1990 features renowned soprano Mirella Freni in the titular role, and was selected by Asmik Grigorian. The recording also features Peter Dvorsky (Des Grieux), Brian Schexnayder (Lescaut), and Italo Tajo (Geronte). Nello Santi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

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Meet the Host

Debra Lew Harder joined the on-air staff of WRTI in 2016. She hosted and produced a range of programming across WRTI on-air and digital platforms, such as Midday Classics and Saturday Morning Classical Coffeehouse, in addition to serving as an artist interviewer for the Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts. She is a concert pianist who has performed with orchestras and in recitals, including at Wigmore Hall in London, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, and Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. She has also recorded two solo piano albums.

Lew Harder holds Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University. She practiced as an emergency room physician before earning a second doctorate in music from the Ohio State University, where she studied piano with the American virtuoso Earl Wild.

Lew Harder served on the applied music faculty of Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, and she is the co-director of Medicine + Music, a co-curricular program at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University that works closely with medical students through coachings, rehearsals, workshops, and performance opportunities to enhance their happiness and development as physicians.

Evening Music

Evening Music

Puccini’s Manon Lescaut