19 July 2008 (Sat) 7:30pm
20 July 2008 (Sun) 2:30pm & 7.30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$880, 700, 520, 360, 180

Ballet in 3 Acts

"MacMillan's Manon is a modern masterpiece with some of the most perfectly constructed dance sequences in the contemporary ballet opus."

－ Sunday Express

－ The Observer

Performed in Hong Kong for the very first time, Manon was choreographed in 1974 by Kenneth MacMillan based on Abbé Prévost's L'Historie du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut (The Story of the knight, Des Grieux and Manon Lescaut) in 1731. The love story of Manon Lescaut and student Des Grieux is a tragedy of innocence corrupted in the pleasure-seeking world of Paris in the early 18th century. Various from the kindhearted and tender image of prima ballerina in ordinary ballet, Manon's character is relatively money-oriented. The ballet consists of ensemble scenes that portray the rich details of a Hogarth engraving. It is an extravaganza featuring lyrical music, lavish sets and glamorous costumes.

Synopsis

The Royal Ballet
Regarded as one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world, The Royal Ballet was founded by Dame Ninette de Valois in 1931 under its original name, the Vic-Wells Ballet. After receiving a royal charter, it was subsequently renamed The Royal Ballet in 1956.

Led by Artistic Director Monica Mason, the 83-strong company has been acknowledged to be in its best shape for decades. The wide-ranging repertoire of this world-class company showcases the greatest classical ballets, with The Royal Ballet's own heritage alongside new works by the foremost international choreographers of today. In its history for 77 years, choreographers for the company have included Sir Robert Helpmann, Frederick Ashton and Sir Kenneth MacMillan; and celebrated dancers have included Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, Gillian Lynne, Irek Mukhamedov, among many others. In the past decades, the company has received numerous dance awards and honours at both national and international levels.

The company has also developed an international reputation by taking worldwide tours having visited Australia, Asia, Europe, Russia and the USA. For the 2008 season, The Royal Ballet will tour Beijing, Shanghai, Japan and Hong Kong. The company last visited Hong Kong in 1983, and gave seven full-house performances attended by more than 30,000 audiences.

Tickets available from 19 May onwards at URBTIX outlets
Discount Schemes
．Half price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients (Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis).
．Group Booking Discount: 10% off for each purchase of 4-9 tickets; 15% off for 10-19 tickets; 20% off for 20 tickets or more.
．10% off for each purchase of standard tickets of Sylvia and Manon
．Patrons could only enjoy only one of the above discount for each purchase

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