June 2019 The Royal Ballet’s 2019/20 Season opens with Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon 2 October – 6 November 2019 | #ROHManon | Tickets £5 - £110 Manon. Francesca Hayward as Manon. ©ROH, 2018. Photographed by Bill Cooper. MacMillan’s dramatic classic is revived 45 years after it had its premiere at the Royal Opera House. Debuts from Matthew Ball, Cesar Corrales and Mayara Magri. Guest Artists Roberto Bolle and David Hallberg perform the role of Des Grieux. This autumn, The Royal Ballet opens its 2019/20 Season with Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon. Based on the 18th-century novel by Abbé Prévost, the ballet features music by Jules Massenet, with designs by MacMillan’s long-term collaborator Nicholas Georgiadis evoking an array of contrasting atmospheres, from the opulent salons of Paris For all Royal Opera House press releases visit www.roh.org.uk/for/press-and-media to the desolate swamps of New Orleans. Incorporating the hallmarks of MacMillan’s signature choreography, the ballet is also infused with emotive pas de deux and a series of characteristic crowd scenes. This revival will feature an array of exciting debuts from across the Company, including from Principal dancer Matthew Ball as Des Grieux, Cesar Corrales as Lescaut and Mayara Magri as Lescaut’s Mistress. Roberto Bolle and David Hallberg return to the Company as Guest Artists, Bolle reprising the role of Des Grieux, and Hallberg making his Royal Ballet debut in the role. Director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare, comments: ‘I’m delighted to open our 2019/20 season with a revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, such a rich and vivid signature work of The Royal Ballet. The ballet offers a wonderful range of dramatic and dancing opportunities for the Company, and I’m especially thrilled to be reviving it after a hugely successful run of another of MacMillan’s great narrative ballets, Romeo and Juliet, at the end of our 2018/19 Season. We look forward to welcoming audiences to enjoy the production from October and hope they find that the emotional arc of the story resonates as powerfully as at the ballet’s premiere in 1974.’ ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS Generous philanthropic support from the Jean Sainsbury Royal Opera House Fund, Marina Hobson OBE, John and Susan Burns and Kenneth and Susan Green. Original production (1974) made possible by The Linbury Trust. PRODUCTION CREDITS Choreography Kenneth MacMillan Music Jules Massenet Orchestration Martin Yates Page 2 of 4 Designer Nicholas Georgiadis CASTING (Manon, Des Grieux, Lescaut, Lescaut’s Mistress, Monsieur G.M.) Wednesday 2 October, 7.30pm & Saturday 5 October, 12pm Sarah Lamb, Vadim Muntagirov, Ryoichi Hirano, Itziar Mendizabal, Christopher Saunders Thursday 3 October, 7.30pm & Thursday 17 October, 7.30pm Lauren Cuthberston, Matthew Ball, Valentino Zucchetti, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Bennet Gartside Wednesday 9 October, 7.30pm & Saturday 12 October, 7.30pm Marianela Nuñez, Roberto Bolle, Marcelino Sambé, Yasmine Naghdi, Gary Avis Tuesday 15 October, 7.30pm & Saturday 19 October, 7.30pm Natalia Osipova, David Hallberg, Ryoichi Hirano, Claire Calvert, Christopher Saunders Wednesday 16 October, 7.30pm & Wednesday 6 November, 7.30pm Akane Takada, Steven McRae, James Hay, Yuhui Choe, Thomas Whitehead Saturday 19 October, 1.30pm & Tuesday 29 October, 7.30pm Francesca Hayward, Alexander Campbell, Cesar Corrales, Mayara Magri, Thomas Whitehead Wednesday 23 October, 7.30pm & Thursday 31 October, 7.30pm Laura Morera, Federico Bonelli, Luca Acri, Meghan Grace Hinkis, Bennet Gartside Guidance Suitable for ages 12+ Contains scenes of an adult nature, including sexual violence. Running time The performance lasts about 2 hours 50 minutes, including two intervals. Page 3 of 4 1. For further information or interview requests please contact Sarah Farrell. 2. To request tickets, please contact Hannah Last. 3. Images are available to download here. About the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House’s aim is for many more people to enjoy and engage in exceptional ballet and opera. As The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, we bring together the world’s most extraordinary ballet and opera artists in more than 500 performances every year: live events that thrill, move and excite, and that transport people to other worlds though music, dance and theatre. About The Royal Ballet Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, The Royal Ballet unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances, and is a driving force in the development of ballet as an art form. Based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, it brings together today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers with a world-class orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, directors and creative teams to share awe-inspiring theatrical experiences with diverse audiences worldwide. The Company’s extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and the compelling new canon of work including pieces by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor, Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon and Artist in Residence Liam Scarlett. Page 4 of 4 .