Gramophone Awards
2001
Winner - Opera

Angela Gheorghiu (Manon), Roberto Alagna (Des Grieux), Earle Patriarco (Lescaut), José van Dam (Comte des Grieux)

Orchestre Symphonique et Chœurs de la Monnaie, Antonio Pappano

"In Act 1 Gheorghiu instantly establishes the heroine as a vivacious, wilful character with a great sense of fun and her singing is both imaginative and technically flawless...while Alagna, always at his happiest in French-language opera, portrays Des Grieux as full of eager innocence as well as passion." - Penguin Guide, 2011 edition.