Money rules in the shady Parisian underworld of the 18th century. 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 solid and devoted young man is her chance for an honorable life. But the Parisian society of the rich 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 Royal Ballet performance, MacMillan's nuanced understanding of the human psyche provides an unflinching look at the moral decay of Manon's Paris, whose decadence and downfall is powerfully underscored by Jules Massenet's score and Nicholas Georgiadis' staging.

Synopsis: TMDb.