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'''Act 2'''
'''Act 2'''
''Scene 1: A party at the hotel particulier of Madame''
''Scene 1: A party at the hotel particulier of Madame''
Manon arrives at the party given by Monsieur GM and is clearly torn between the wealth of her companion and her love for des Grieux, who is also there with Lescaut. Des Grieux tries to persuade Manon to leave with him but she tells him that the time is not right and only will be when he taeks more of Monsieur GM's money at cards. Des Grieux is caught cheating and he and Manon rush away.
Manon arrives at the party given by Monsieur GM and is clearly torn between the wealth of her companion and her love for des Grieux, who is also there with Lescaut. Des Grieux tries to persuade Manon to leave with him but she tells him that the time is not right and only will be when he takes more of Monsieur GM's money at cards. Des Grieux is caught cheating and he and Manon rush away.


''Scene 2: Des Grieux's lodgings''
''Scene 2: Des Grieux's lodgings''
Line 45: Line 45:


''Scene 2: The gaoler's room''
''Scene 2: The gaoler's room''
The gaoler has arrested Maon but offers her rewards in the hope that she will desert des Grieux and live with him. Des Grieux, however, breaks in and kills the gaoler.
The gaoler has arrested Manon but offers her rewards in the hope that she will desert des Grieux and live with him. Des Grieux, however, breaks in and kills the gaoler.


''Scene 3: The swamp''
''Scene 3: The swamp''
Manon and des Grieux have escapted into the swamp of Louisiana. All her former ambitions of welath and splendour have been renounced for her love for des Grieux. While eluding their pursuers Manon collapses and dies in his arms.
Manon and des Grieux have escapted into the swamp of Louisiana. All her former ambitions of wealth and splendour have been renounced for her love for des Grieux. While eluding their pursuers Manon collapses and dies in his arms.


==List of pieces quoted in ''L'histoire de Manon''==
==List of pieces quoted in ''L'histoire de Manon''==

Revision as of 13:58, 8 January 2009

L'histoire de Manon
ChoreographerSir Kenneth MacMillan
MusicJules Massenet, arranged by Leighton Lucas
Premiere1974
Royal Opera House, London
Original ballet companyRoyal Ballet
GenreNeoclassical ballet
Typeclassical ballet
For other versions of the Manon story, see Manon (disambiguation).

L'histoire de Manon is a ballet comprising the music of Jules Massenet, arranged and partially orchestrated by British composer Leighton Lucas. The piece was first presented by London's Royal Ballet in 1974 with choreography by Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Ironically, the ballet contains none of the music from Massenet's opera Manon, with which it shares an almost identical story. The music compiled by Lucas is drawn from other works by Massenet, including thirteen operas and two oratorios as well as his orchestral suites, various songs and piano works. The ballet is a mainstay of the modern repertoire, generally referred to as simply Manon.

There is a 1985 commercial recording available, conducted by Massenet champion Richard Bonynge on the Decca label, as well as two DVD releases: a 1982 Royal Ballet production and a 2000 Australian Ballet production, both from Kultur Video.

Synopsis

This synopsis first appeared in the programme for The Royal Ballet's production of Manon

Act 1 - Paris Scene 1: The courtyard of an inn near Paris The courtyard at the inn is frequented by actresses, gentlemen and the deminonde from Paris. Among them are des Grieux, a young student, the wealthy Monsieur GM, and Lescaut, who is there to meet his sister Manon on her way to enter a convent. A coach arrives bringing Manon and an old gentleman who has been very much attracted to her. Lescaut notices this and takes the gentleman into the inn to come to an arrangement with him over Manon. Manon remains outside and meets des Grieux. They fall in love and decide to escape to Paris with the help of the money that she has stolen from the old gentleman. Lescaut and the old gentleman come out of the inn, having made a bargain, and to their dismay see that Manon has disappeared. Monsieur GM tells Lescaut that he too is interested in Manon and because of this wealth Lescaut promises to find Manon and persuade her to accept GM.

Scene 2: Des Grieux's lodgings in Paris Des Grieux is writing a letter to his father but Manon interrupts by declaring her love for him. Des Grieux goes to post the letter and in his absence Lescaut arrives with Monsieur GM. Manon yields to GM's advances and when des Grieux returns, Lescaut persuades him that there will be great wealth for all of them if he, des Grieux, will sanction the liaison between Manon and GM.

Act 2 Scene 1: A party at the hotel particulier of Madame Manon arrives at the party given by Monsieur GM and is clearly torn between the wealth of her companion and her love for des Grieux, who is also there with Lescaut. Des Grieux tries to persuade Manon to leave with him but she tells him that the time is not right and only will be when he takes more of Monsieur GM's money at cards. Des Grieux is caught cheating and he and Manon rush away.

Scene 2: Des Grieux's lodgings Manon and des Grieux once again declare their love for one another but Monsieur GM arrives with the police and Manon is arrested as a prostitute. In the ensuing struggle Lescaut is killed.

Act 3 - New Orleans Scene 1: The port The gaoler of the penal colony awaits the arrival of the convicts from France. Manon has been deported to America as a prostitute and des Grieux has followed her there by pretending to be her husband. The gaoler now turns his interest towards Manon.

Scene 2: The gaoler's room The gaoler has arrested Manon but offers her rewards in the hope that she will desert des Grieux and live with him. Des Grieux, however, breaks in and kills the gaoler.

Scene 3: The swamp Manon and des Grieux have escapted into the swamp of Louisiana. All her former ambitions of wealth and splendour have been renounced for her love for des Grieux. While eluding their pursuers Manon collapses and dies in his arms.

List of pieces quoted in L'histoire de Manon

Act One

  • Le dernier sommeil de la Vierge from La Vierge
  • Entr'acte: Manola from Chérubin
  • Aubade: 'Vive amour' from Chérubin
  • Scènes dramatiques: Scène finale (second theme)
  • Scènes pittoresques: Marche
  • Scènes dramatiques: Prélude et Divertissement (second theme)
  • Overture to Le Cid
  • Crépuscule (song)
  • Entr'acte: Idylle from Grisélidis
  • Scènes dramatiques: Prélude et Divertissement (third theme)
  • Ballet: No. 4 (Allegretto) from Thaïs
  • Lament d'Ariane from Ariane
  • Élégie from Les Érinnyes
  • Les moulins from Don Quichotte
  • Marche des Princesses from 'Cendrillon
  • Le sommeil de Cendrillon from Cendrillon
  • Ouvre tes yeux bleus (song)
  • Les filles de noblesse from Cendrillon
  • Valse très lente (piano work, later orchestrated by Massenet)
  • Scènes dramatiques: Prélude et Divertissement (first theme)

Act Two

Act Three

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