The world premiere of G. Puccini’s Manon Lescaut happened at the Teatro Regio in Turin on the 1st of February 1893. It was the composer’s triumph: according to the feedback from contemporaries, “the whole of Italy was driven mad in its admiration for this opera”. No less important was the London premiere that took place the following year on the stage of Covent Garden. George Bernard Shaw, known not only for his plays but also his exceptionally engaging and at times cutting music reviews, had a warm reaction to it. His review offered the prophetic blessing: ”It seems to me that Puccini is to a higher degree than any of his competitors likely to be Verdi’s heir”.