Dossier 11 - Concerto

One handwritten page, one handwritten letter with envelope and two telegrams

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Concerto for the Deutsche Oper Ballet which premiered on 30 Nov 1966 at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin. The ballet was first performed by the Royal Ballet Touring Company in 1967 and by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1982. The material comprises:

1. One page of handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan on Deutsche Oper Berlin headed notepaper. The notes list the suggested dancers for the different movements for the staging by the Royal Ballet Touring Company. Undated
2. Handwritten letter from Ninette de Valois to Kenneth MacMillan following the staging by the Royal Ballet Touring Company, saying how much she enjoyed the ballet but how it suffered from the choreographer not being there. De Valois gives detailed critique of some of the dancer. With envelope postmarked 1 Jun 1967
3. Telegram from Frederick Ashton to Kenneth MacMillan expressing his delight in the triumph of Concerto, 22 May 1967
4. Telegram in French from Helen Trailine and Jean Albert Cartier to Kenneth MacMillan wishing Concerto great success and thanking him for his collaboration, 2 Oct 1982

The handwritten letter from Ninette de Valois would be interesting to digitise