Reviews of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet performances of a triple bill of Kenneth MacMillan ballets of Concerto, The Invitation and Elite Syncopations, 1982

Mikhail Baryshnikov succeeded Lucia Chase as Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980. He was keen to retain and expand the number of works by Kenneth MacMillan in the Company's repertoire. The material in this file comprises

1. One typed letter from Mikhail Baryshnikov to Kenneth MacMillan re keeping Concerto in the repertoire but suggesting new costumes by Santo Loquasto. He is also keen to have a new work from MacMillan for the 1981/82 season, 5 Apr 1980
2. One typed page of casting for Concerto with annotations in blue biro and pencil
3. One typed letter from Mikhail Baryshnikov reporting on success of having Monica (Parker?) teaching Concerto to the Company. Also hopes Santo Loquasto has contacted MacMillan about the costumes, 6 Nov 1980
4. One ticket stub for ABT at Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, 9 Jun 1981
5. Typed invitation to Sir Frederick Ashton to dinner at Mr and Mrs Anthony Bliss, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Association, Lincoln Center, New York, 1 Jul 1981. Sir Kenneth and Mrs MacMillan to bring him to the Bliss' apartment
6. One typed letter enclosing a contract for signature, 1 Jul 1981 (the contract is not with the letter)
7. Typed postcard from Richard Tanner inviting Kenneth MacMillan and family to dinner, n.d.

Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan stopped over in Hong Kong when returning from Australia in 1988 and spent time with The Hong Kong Ballet. The Company subsequently performed MacMillan's Concerto, Summer pas de deux and Pavane. The correspondence and contracts in this file mainly relate to arrangements for these works, with a letter from Petal [Miller] expressing her gratitude in working with the Company on the staging of Pavane. There is a photocopy of a handwritten message sent by Kenneth MacMillan for inclusion in The Hong Kong Ballet's 10th anniversary brochure

Ona typed letter from Michael Broderick, Honorary Secretary of The London Ballet Circle, thanking Kenneth MacMillan for allowing Marguerite Porter and Julian Hosking to perform the pas de deux from Concerto in the theatre of the Royal Free Hospital, 5 Nov 1981

The material in this file contains correspondence and agreements relating to works by Kenneth MacMillan performed by the National Ballet of Canada. It includes

1. A handwritten letter from Celia Franca relating to Solitaire, 20 May 1965
2. Correspondence and agreements for Song of the Earth, 1977-1988
3. Correspondence and agreements for Elite Syncopations, 1978-1992
4. Correspondence and agreements for Gloria, 1989
5. An agreement for Concerto, 1987
6. Two handwritten letters from Alexander Grant
7. One fax from Reid Anderson re Karen Kain in Song of the Earth, 31 Jan 1991

Two photographs of a revival of Concerto

Press cuttings of reviews of Concerto and Checkpoint

This file contains correspondence from members of The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera House management and technical teams relating to the staging of his works by The Royal Ballet. It includes letters from David Webster, John Tooley, Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton, John Field, John Copley and Adrian Grater. There are two contracts from the Royal Opera House for Kenneth MacMillan to create a work and to mount Concerto for The Royal Ballet, Ninette de Valois talks about working in Turkey and on seeing the film of Romeo and Juliet, Frederick Ashton sends congratulations on Concerto, thanks for performing Scenes de Ballet in Berlin, casting for Song of the Earth. There is a strongly worded letter from Kenneth MacMillan to Ninette de Valois complaining about 'the disastrous performances of my ballets in Edinburgh', tendering his resignation and enclosing press cuttings, 24 Aug 1960

Kenneth MacMillan had been a pupil at the Sadler's Wells, later The Royal Ballet School from 1945 to 1946.
The material in this file comprises a handwritten letter from Sherilyn Kennedy and the Concerto cast, thanking him for letting them perform his ballet, letters from Directors Michael Wood, James Monahan, Merle Park and Norman Morrice. There is an invitation to a Garden Party at White Lodge to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ninette de Valois, n.d but 1978, and a three page Director's Report to the Governors of The Royal Ballet, 30 Mar 1981