The Royal Ballet at Royal Opera House Covent Garden
Manon plays at Canadian cinemas on February 28th, as part of the 2009 Canada Winter/Spring series
- Empire Theatres February 28 - 13:00
- The Ridge (Vancouver) February 28 - 10:00
- Princess Twin Cinema (Waterloo) February 28 - 13:00
Manon, Kenneth MacMillan’s three-act ballet, is one of the great showpieces for The Royal Ballet, for whom it was created. Now a worldwide classic, the story is timelessly romantic. A young girl, Manon, is destined for a convent when she becomes torn between her impetuous love for the student Des Grieux and her desire for wealth and comfort as a kept woman to the much older Monsieur G.M. The Covent Garden stage bursts with 18th century life, from the bustling courtyard of an inn near Paris, where the couple first meets, to the louche atmosphere of a Parisian house of ‘entertainment’ and its courtesans.
Manon, played by the amazing Tamara Rojo, and Des Grieux, danced by superstar Carlos Acosta, are showcase roles for the dancers’ extraordinary skill and dramatic power. Their duets electrify as they experience the emotional currents of their doomed love affair, fueled by Massenet’s musical score, which exudes a dramatic sensuality. Seductive and powerful, Manon offers a unique chance to enjoy The Royal Ballet perform one of the highlights of their legendary repertoire.
Shot live at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in High Definition and Full Surround Sound — Oct 2008
Duration: 117 minutes (+ 20 minute intermission)
