Manon

About

Returning to critical and audience acclaim, this is the epitome of Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Choreographed in 1974 while he was the director of The Royal Ballet, Manon is an adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. A full-length ballet in three acts, Manon is considered one of MacMillan’s most notable works, showcasing his expertise of narrative choreography and acute insight into human psychology. MacMillan is at his best here: finding full expression in the impassioned duets of the central couple, visceral and desperate in their desire. The heroine’s struggle to escape poverty makes Manon one of the most dramatic, sensual, and devastating ballets, showcasing the juxtaposition between Manon’s impoverished origins and the lavish world she longs to inhabit. Contains mature themes.