MANON

Biography

Ballet in 3 acts.

Music - Jules Massenet. Choreography and libretto - Kenneth MacMillan based on the novel by Abbé Prevost "The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and Manon Lescaut". Production ballet masters- Carl Burnett and Patricia Ruanne. Orchestration and arrangement by Martin Yates. Sets and costumes - Nicholas Georgiadis. Conductor - Arman Urazgaliev. Set coordinator - Cinzia Lo Fazio, costume coordinators - Natalia Stewart / Arasel Dosmuratova. The lighting designer - Jacopo Pantani.

The performance was staged for the Astana Opera Theatre, premiered on April 28 and 29, 2017.

Characters and performers: Manon - Madina Basbayeva, Aigerim Beketayeva; Des Grieux - Rustem Seitbekov, Olzhas Tarlanov; Lescaut - Bakhtiyar Adamzhan, Arman Urazov; Monsieur GM - Zhanibek Imankulov; Lescaut’s mistress - Anel Rustemova, Gaukhar Ussina; Guard - Olzhas Makhanbetaliyev; Madame - Serina Sunagawa, Altynai Kagazbayeva.

The choreographer adapted Manon's story to the modern world. The bold plot exposes the vices of high society, exposing the impossibility and weakness of de Grieux's pure love in the conditions of that time. MacMillan, as a true artist, succeeded in preserving the idea, intent of the literary source, to recreate all the drama, cynicism of high society in his artistic work.