Manon presented by The Australian Ballet, Joan Sutherland Theatre | Sydney Opera House

__Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s__ adaptation of __Abbé Prévost’s__ 1731 novel, *Manon* is a tragic romance unlike any other in ballet. From the echelons of high society 18th-century Paris to the gritty streets of New Orleans, *Manon* tells a story of a young girl desperate to rise above her lowly origins, seduced by wealth and the power it affords her. Forced to choose between her true love, the penniless des Grieux, or a life of lavish splendour, Manon is ultimately undone by her desires. One of __Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s__ most celebrated works, *Manon* premiered in 1974 at the Royal Opera House in London and has been in The Australian Ballet’s repertoire since 1994. It is a powerful classical ballet that exposes the immense class divide, where the rich and powerful exploit the desperate and destitute. Set to __Jules Massenet’s__ haunting score as arranged by __Martin Yates__, *Manon* is a vivid production about escaping poverty and the price of true love.