L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the famous writer Antoine François Prévost was first published in 1731 and for almost three centuries has inspired painters, writers, directors and composers for creating interesting works.
Kenneth MacMillan’s three-act ballet Manon was also created based on the novel. The plot unfolds as if on a movie set at a film studio, and has a great dynamism of dramatic development. Love at first sight, innocence and passion, escape, fatal choice: feelings or a prosperous way of life. Happiness, break up, reunion, revenge, arrest. Manon dies in the arms of her beloved.
A joint team of Kazakhstani and British specialists – keepers of the traditions of the Royal Ballet – is working on the production at the Astana Opera. Set and Costume Supervisors followed the original in the minutest things.