#13 Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon – Prepare to be Seduced Opens the 2014/15 Season American Ballet Theatre’s Marcelo Gomes Appears as Guest Artist
October 24, 2014… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, which opens the 2014/15 season on November 8, 2014 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
The opening night cast will feature Principal Dancers Sonia Rodriguez and Guillaume Côté in the roles of Manon and Des Grieux. Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone and Corps de Ballet member Harrison James will also perform the lead roles.
Principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson will dance Manon opposite Guest Artist Marcelo Gomes as Des Grieux. Mr. Gomes, a native of Brazil, is a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre in New York City and one of the most sought after dancers of his generation. Mr. Gomes returns to the National Ballet after 10 years, last performing with Ms. Hodgkinson in The Sleeping Beauty in 2004.
Performing the role of Lescaut and Lescaut’s Mistress on opening night will be Principal Dancers Piotr Stanczyk and Xiao Nan Yu. Corps de Ballet member Jack Bertinshaw and Principal Dancer Svetlana Lunkina and Corps de Ballet member Francesco Gabriele Frola and Second Soloist Jordana Daumec will also perform the roles.
Last performed by The National Ballet of Canada in 1999, Manon is one of MacMillan’s – and modern ballet’s – most dramatically powerful works. Manon features set and costume design by Peter Farmer and is set to a score by Jules Massenet, orchestrated and arranged by Martin Yates and performed by The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra.
Based on a late 18th-century novel by Abbé Prévost, Manon follows the fortunes of the eponymous courtesan, whose ill-fated love for the naïve student Des Grieux drives her from the Parisian demi-monde to the swamps of Louisiana.
Returning again this season is the National Ballet’s popular and free Ballet Talks which will take place in R. Fraser Elliott Hall at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The Ballet Talks will begin one hour before the performance with seating on the orchestra level only and will be on a first come, first serve basis. The Ballet Talks for Manon will be led by Ballet Master Lindsay Fischer.
Principal Casting
Manon Sonia Rodriguez (November 8, 12, 13, 15 at 7:30 pm) Jillian Vanstone (November 9, 13, 15 at 2:00 pm) Greta Hodgkinson (November 14 at 7:30 pm/November 16 at 2:00 pm)
Des Grieux Guillaume Côté (November 8, 12, 13, 15 at 7:30 pm) Harrison James (November 9, 13, 15 at 2:00 pm) Marcelo Gomes* (November 14 at 7:30 pm/November 16 at 2:00 pm)
Lescaut Francesco Gabriele Frola (November 8, 12 at 7:30/November 15 at 2:00 pm) James Whiteside* (November 9, 13 at 2:00 pm/November 13 at 7:30 pm) Jack Bertinshaw (November 14 at 7:30 pm/November 16 at 2:00 pm) Patrick Lavoie (November 15 at 7:30 pm)
Lescaut’s Mistress Svetlana Lunkina (November 8, 12, 14 at 7:30 pm/November 16 at 2:00 pm) Jordana Daumec (November 9, 13, 15 at 2:00 pm/November 13 at 7:30 pm) Xiao Nan Yu (November 15 at 7:30 pm)
*Guest Artist
Casting subject to change.
Manon is presented by Chloé Fragrances.
Performance Sponsor: Deloitte LLP, November 14 at 7:30 pm
Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight.
Sonia Rodriguez is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin in celebration of her 25th Anniversary year.
Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White.
Marcelo Gomes’s appearance is made possible by a generous donation from Ned & Georgina McLennan.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official
Languages; and the Government of Ontario through the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
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Catherine Chang Christine Achampong Senior Communications Manager Publicity Coordinator 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca
#15
Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon Opens Saturday Marcelo Gomes and James Whiteside Appear as Guest Artists Photography Exhibit by Aleksandar Antonijevic
November 7, 2014… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced that American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Marcelo Gomes and James Whiteside will perform in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, which opens the 2014/15 season on November 8, 2014 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Gomes, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, will dance Des Grieux opposite Principal Dancer Greta Hodgkinson as Manon on November 14 at 7:30 pm and November 16 at 2:00 pm.
In his National Ballet debut, Mr. Whiteside, also a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, will appear as Lescaut opposite Second Soloist Jordana Daumec as Lescaut’s Mistress on November 9 and 13 at 2:00 pm and November 13 at 7:30 pm.
Based on a late 18th-century novel by Abbé Prévost, Manon follows the fortunes of the eponymous courtesan, whose ill-fated love for the naïve student Des Grieux drives her from the Parisian demi-monde to the swamps of Louisiana. Last performed by the National Ballet in 1999, Manon is one of MacMillan’s – and modern ballet’s – most dramatically powerful works.
During the Fall Season, Former Principal Dancer Aleksandar Antonijevic’s photography exhibit, Till We Meet Again, A Love Letter, will be featured in the lobby of the Four Seasons Centre of the Performing Arts with16 stunning portraits of Artists of the National Ballet.
Manon is presented by Chloé Fragrances.
Marcelo Gomes’s appearance is made possible by a generous donation from Ned & Georgina McLennan.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario through the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Chang Christine Achampong Senior Communications Manager Publicity Coordinator 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca
Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan Staged by: Patricia Ruanne, Karl Burnett & Anthony Dowell Music: Jules Massenet, arranged and orchestrated by Martin Yates Set and Costume Design: Peter Farmer Lighting Design: Robert Thomson
World Premiere: The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden London, United Kingdom, March 7, 1974 The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: May 2, 1996
Manon is presented by Chloé Fragrances.
Marcelo Gomes’ appearance is made possible by a generous donation from Ned & Georgina McLennan.
Performance Dates: November 8 – 16, 2014 Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Based on a late 18th-century novel by Abbé Prévost, Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon follows the fortunes of the eponymous courtesan, whose ill-fated love for the naïve student des Grieux drives her from the Parisian demi-monde to the swamps of Louisiana.
Manon dispenses the mythical and allegorical themes of narrative dance and presents a story that is grounded in a historical context with complex characters who are fueled by greed and lust. Last performed by The National Ballet of Canada in 1999, Manon is one of MacMillan’s – and modern ballet’s – most dramatically powerful works.
Quotes
“MacMillan used all the modern dramatic techniques at his disposal to engage our emotions, then filled his scenes with choreography that is a wonder to watch.” The Toronto Star, 1998
“Manon is ballet at its finest... A triumph for The National Ballet of Canada.” Toronto Sun, 1996
“Raw, earthy Manon a superb ballet... The high inventiveness of the choreography makes for compelling spectacle all on its own.” The Globe and Mail, 1996
Page 1 of 1
Manon Synopsis
Act I
Scene I – The courtyard of an inn in Paris The courtyard at the inn is frequented by actresses, gentlemen and the demi-monde from Paris. Among them are Des Grieux (a young student), the wealthy Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine and Lescaut, who is there to meet with his sister Manon on her way to enter a convent. A coach arrives bringing Manon and an Old Gentleman who is very attracted to her; Lescaut notices this and takes the Old Gentleman into the inn to come to an arrangement with him over Manon. Manon remains outside and meets Des Grieux. They instantly 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 Guillot de Morfontaine tells Lescaut that he too is interested in Manon and because of Guillot de Morfontaine’s wealth Lescaut promises to find Manon and persuade her to accept him.
Scene II – Des Grieux’s lodgings in Paris Des Grieux is writing a letter to his father but Manon interrupts him by declaring her love for him. Des Grieux goes to post the letter, and in his absence Lescaut arrives with Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine. Manon yields to Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine’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 Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine.
Act II
Scene I – A party at the Hotel Particulier of Madame Manon arrives at the party given by Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine 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 Guillot de Morfontaine’s money at cards. Des Grieux is caught cheating and he and Manon rush away.
Scene II – Des Grieux’s lodgings Manon and Des Grieux once again declare their love for one another but Monsieur Guillot de Morfontaine arrives with the police and Manon is arrested as a prostitute. In the ensuing struggle Lescaut is killed.
Act III – New Orleans
Scene I – 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 II – 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 breaks in and kills the Gaoler.
Scene III – The swamp Manon and Des Grieux have escaped into the swamp of Louisiana. All her former ambitions of wealth and splendour have been renounced for her love of Des Grieux. While eluding their pursuers Manon collapses and dies in Des Grieux’s arms.
Sir Kenneth MacMillan Choreographer, Manon
Sir Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1929. He grew up in Great Yarmouth where he took his first ballet lessons with Phyllis Adams and studied at the Sadler’s Wells (now The Royal Ballet) School on a scholarship in 1945. There he worked with Ninette de Valois and Vera Volkova and became a fine classical dancer.
In 1946, Sir Kenneth joined the newly formed Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet (SWTB) and in 1948, was promoted to the Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden. He returned to the SWTB in 1952 and began choreographing for their new choreographic group. His first ballet, Somnambulism, set to a symphonic jazz score by Stan Kenton, was the hit of the SWTB’s first Sunday evening performance on February 1, 1953. Thereafter, Sir Kenneth’s ballets ranged from abstract works of pure dance to large-scale company works, including The Rite of Spring, Romeo and Juliet and Song of the Earth.
From 1966 to 1969, Sir Kenneth worked as Director of Deutsche Oper Berlin, staging The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake as well as making short ballets, including the one-act version of Anastasia. In 1970, he returned to London as Director of The Royal Ballet, succeeding Sir Frederick Ashton.
From 1984 to 1989, Sir Kenneth was the Associate Director of American Ballet Theatre, staging many of the works in the company’s repertoire. He was also the Artistic Associate of Houston Ballet and staged Manon for the company’s 1992/93 season.
Sir Kenneth died on October 29, 1992 during a performance of Mayerling at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Until his sudden death, he continued to work for The Royal Ballet as the company's Principal Choreographer. In 1996, Sir Kenneth was posthumously awarded The Vaslav Nijinsky Medal.
Patricia Ruanne Stager, Manon
Born in England and trained at The Royal Ballet School, Patricia Ruanne joined The Royal Ballet Touring Company at 17 where she danced a varied classical and contemporary repertoire and was rapidly promoted to Principal.
Ms. Ruanne transferred to English National Ballet (then London Festival Ballet), where her professional collaboration with Rudolf Nureyev began, dancing Aurora with him in his production of The Sleeping Beauty, and creating the role of Juliet in his acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet, which they performed in London, Paris, Australia and the USA.
Ms. Ruanne joined Nureyev at the Paris Opéra as Ballet Mistress during his tenure as Artistic Director and remained there for 10 years returning frequently as a guest with the company, particularly for the Nureyev repertoire. She has staged Nureyev’s ballets worldwide. Ms. Ruanne assisted Sir Kenneth MacMillan during his preparation of Manon in Paris in 1990 and following that production, he requested her to continue staging the ballet, which she now does in collaboration with Karl Burnett.
Ms. Ruanne is the former Ballet Director at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
Karl Burnett Stager, Manon
Born in London, Karl Burnett trained initially with Pamela Howard and then at The Royal Ballet School. In 1994, after a fulfilling and successful dance career, Mr. Burnett went on to become Choreographic Assistant to Angelin Preljocaj, Ballet Master at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Assistant Director at Aterballetto. Since 2002, he has worked as a guest teacher and répétiteur at Royal Swedish Ballet, Ballet Gulbenkian, Nederlands Dans Theater, Teatro alla Scala and Béjart Ballet Lausanne, among many others. Mr. Burnett has staged various works for Mr. Preljocaj and Mauro Bigonzetti, as well as some of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s masterpieces including Song of the Earth, Manon, Romeo and Juliet, Elite Syncopations and Mayerling. With The Royal Ballet in London, he assisted in revivals of Different Drummer, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan and in 2010, staged MacMillan’s last and perhaps most challenging ballet, The Judas Tree. Mr. Burnett has also been involved in revivals of Manon, Prince of the Pagodas and Mayerling at The Royal Opera House in London.
In 2011, Mr. Burnett choreographed a new production of The Sleeping Beauty (after Marius Petipa), which premiered at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He presently divides his time as an agent, representing a group of young European choreographers and continues to work as a guest teacher.
Sir Anthony Dowell, CBE Stager, Manon
Sir Anthony Dowell was born in London and studied at the Hampshire School and The Royal Ballet's Lower and Upper Schools. In 1961, he joined The Royal Ballet and, less than two years later, Sir Frederick Ashton chose him to create the role of Oberon in The Dream. It was in this ballet that he first danced with Antoinette Sibley, who created Titania, and the foundation for an outstanding ballet partnership was laid.
His major created roles in Ashton’s works include Oberon in The Dream, Beliaev in A Month in the Country, Troyte in Enigma Variations and Lo Straniero in Varii Capricci. For Sir Kenneth MacMillan, he created Des Grieux in Manon, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Kshessinska's partner in Anastasia, the Boy in Triad and Autumn in The Four Seasons. He also created the Boy with Matted Hair in Antony Tudor's Shadowplay, Prospero in Rudolph Nureyev's The Tempest and the leading role in Hans van Manen's Four Schumann Pieces, for which he was the inspiration. Roles in which he was particularly praised include the leads in Ashton's La Fille mal gardée, Cinderella, Daphnis and Chloë and Symphonic Variations; MacMillan's Song of the Earth and Romeo and Juliet; La Bayadère; Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering and In the Night; and George Balanchine's Agon.
In 1972, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, the youngest dancer ever to be so honoured. In 1995, he was created a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and presented with the Royal Academy of Dancing’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award in 1994.
Sir Anthony retired as Director of The Royal Ballet in August 2001 after 15 triumphant years.
Martin Yates Orchestration, Manon
Martin Yates made his Royal Opera House debut in 2004 conducting Agon and has conducted the company every season ever since. His repertoire with The Royal Opera House includes Manon, Mayerling, L’invitation au Voyage, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and The Seven Deadly Sins. In 2011, Mr. Yates created the new orchestration for Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon and in 2013 he orchestrated and conducted Carlos Acosta’s new production of Don Quixote.
Mr. Yates studied as a pianist, composer and conductor and made his professional debut with The Israeli Opera. He has conducted at the opera houses in Helsinki, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo and Rome and is best known for his recordings of British and French music as well as his work in ballet. Mr. Yates has also conducted with the Finnish National Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Norwegian National Ballet, The National Ballet of Japan and Hong Kong Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty, Onegin, The Nutcracker, Rite of Spring, Firebird, Petrushka, Pulcinella, Four Last Songs, The Four Sections and Don Quixote. Mr. Yates has also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, with whom he has made over forty recordings.
Mr. Yates’ orchestrations and completions include Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in E, Elgar’s Pageant of Empire, EJ Moeran’s Symphony No.2, Richard Arnell’s Symphony No.7, John Ireland’s Sarnia and the ballet Four Schumann Pieces choreographed by Hans Van Manen.
Peter Farmer Set and Costume Designer, Manon
Peter Farmer has designed for most of the major ballet companies in the world, including The Royal Ballet, London Festival Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Houston Ballet, London City Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Cologne Opera, Stuttgart Ballet, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, New London Ballet, Ballet Rambert, Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, The Washington Ballet and Chicago City Ballet.
His work includes designs for The Sleeping Beauty for Bavarian State Opera; Anna Karenina and The Three Musketeers for The Australian Ballet, Giselle for Houston Ballet and Theatro Municipal Rio de Janeiro, Swan Lake for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet, The Great Gatsby for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker for Cincinnati Ballet, Les Sylphides for Theatro Municipal Rio de Janeiro, A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Ballet de Chambre de Hirofumi Inoue in Japan, Theme and Variations and Divertlmento No. 15 for Sadler’s Wells Theatre (now Birmingham Royal Ballet).
He designed Anna Karenina for Ballet de Santiago de Teatro Municipal de Santiago, the Norwegian National Ballet, La Traviata for London City Ballet, Cinderella for Cincinnati Ballet, Giselle also for the Star Dancers Ballet Company in Tokyo, Coppélia for the National Ballet of Portugal and also for Ballet de Chambre de Hirofumi Inoue in Japan and The Nutcracker also for Pittsburgh Ballet. He designed Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Winter Dreams for The Royal Ballet and Manon for the Australian, Vienna, Houston and Kirov Ballets. Other designs include Peter Darrell’s Tales of Hoffmann for Hong Kong Ballet, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Butterfly for The Australian Ballet and Swan Lake for English National Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall London.
Robert Thomson Lighting Designer, Manon
Robert Thomson is one of Canada’s most prolific and versatile lighting designers. He has received numerous awards over his 35-year career including a Sterling Award, four Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for 2012.
For The National Ballet of Canada, Mr. Thomson served as Resident Lighting Designer for 12 seasons. His numerous designs include The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Swan Lake, The Miraculous Mandarin and Spring Awakening.
Over 13 consecutive seasons at the Stratford Festival his designs include Beaux’ Stratagem, The Merchant of Venice, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, Dangerous Liaisons, Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra and King Lear. During his 24 seasons at the Shaw Festival (ten as Head of Lighting Design), Mr. Thomson is credited on more than 55 productions. Mr. Thomson designed the Canadian Opera Company’s globally acclaimed Bluebeard's Castle and Erwartung, directed by Robert Lepage, with a remount at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
He has worked with a diverse range of Canadian companies, including the National Arts Centre, Canadian Stage, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Citadel Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Tarragon Theatre and The Segal Theatre and Centaur Theatre. Internationally, his designs have been featured at Lincoln Center Theater, Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet.