Guild Hall Offers Opera and Awards This Week

The Met: Live in HD will present a new production of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Guild Hall. A lecture on the opera by Victoria Bond will precede the screening at noon.

The story of a beautiful young woman destroyed by her conflicting needs for love and luxury stars Kristine Opolais as Manon, Roberto Alagna as des Grieux, the student who woos her, and Brindley Sherratt as Geronte, the wealthy tax collector for whom Manon leaves des Grieux. 

Richard Eyre, the director, has moved the setting from the 18th century to occupied France during World War II. Fabio Luisi, the Met’s principal conductor, wields the baton. Tickets are $22, $20 for members, and $15 for students.

Ms. Bond is an internationally renowned composer and conductor who presents regular pre-concert talks at the New York Philharmonic in addition to her occasional Operatif talks at Guild Hall. Tickets to her half-hour talk are $30, but donors to the Met at Guild Hall series receive two free tickets. Donations can be made by calling 324-0806.

Guild Hall’s 31st annual Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards dinner will take place Tuesday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Rainbow Room in Manhattan. The honorees are Sarah Jessica Parker for performing arts, A.M. Homes for literary arts, and Mary Heilmann for visual arts.

Charlotte Moss and Barry S. Friedberg will receive the Special Award for Leadership and Philanthropic Endeavors. Tickets can be purchased at Guild Hall’s website.