Scene from: Manon
Composer: Music of Jules Massenet, orch by Leighton Lucas
Conductor: Ashley Lawrence
Based on Abbé Prévost's 18th century romantic novel, Manon Lescaut, and not on the famous operas derived from that work, this ballet tells the story of a girl who has much charm but little character. She suffers accordingly, but not before she has brought her lover, Des Grieux, down with her. He persists in finding in her charm a character no one else can see.
The character of Des Grieux is said to be a forerunner for all those men of good connection in fiction who have ruined their lives for a courtesan. His continual justification for his behaviour, is that true love excuses the betrayal of principle and justifies his actions. Manon can at one moment be honest, at the next deceitful. Her ambiguous nature, amoral rather than immoral, is part of her irresistable charm and Des Grieux can forgive her anything.
"With performances of this calibre…Manon remains an irresistable combination of immorality, opulence, suffering and tears".
FINANCIAL TIMES
Cast: Manon - Jennifer Penney, Des Grieux - Anthony Dowell, Lescaut - David Wall, Monsieur G.M. - Derek Rencher
Catalogue: 8573842012