In the seedy Parisian underworld of the 18th century, money reigns supreme. Nothing is sacred—and even love can be bought, if the price is right. As a member of this hedonistic underworld, Manon is torn when she falls in love with the student Des Grieux. The steadfast and devoted young man represents her chance at a respectable life. But Parisian high society remains full of temptations… In his 1974 adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel, Kenneth MacMillan focused on Manon’s inner turmoil and her struggle for survival. In this signature production by the Royal Ballet, MacMillan’s nuanced understanding of the human psyche offers an unflinching look at the moral decay of Manon’s Paris, whose decadence and downfall are powerfully underscored by Jules Massenet’s score and Nicholas Georgiadis’s staging.

Synopsis: TMDb.