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Cote
Titre
Date(s)
- 1979-1983, n.d. (Création/Production)
Niveau de description
Étendue matérielle et support
One file of memos, letters and cards with one black and white and one colour photograph
Zone du contexte
Nom du producteur
Notice biographique
Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and began ballet classes in Retford, England, in 1940. He joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1944 and later the Sadler's Wells Ballet but gave up dancing for choreography partly due to crippling stage fright. His first choreographic work was Somnambulism, created for the Sadler's Wells Ballet Choreographic Group in 1953 and he created works for both Royal Ballet companies throughout his career. He created significant works for The Stuttgart Ballet and his works are danced by ballet companies world-wide. He has also created work for television and cinema.
Kenneth MacMillan was Director of the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin from 1966 to 1969, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977 and its Principal Chroreographer from 1977 until his death. He was also Associate Director of American Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1989, and Artistic Associate of the Houston Ballet from 1989 to 1992.
Kenneth MacMillan was knighted in 1983, and he received honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (1976) and the Royal College of Art (1992). His awards include the Evening Standard Ballet Award (1979); Society of West End Theatre Ballet Award, 1980 and 1983; and, posthumously, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 1993 for The Judas Tree; the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 1993; and the Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1994 for Carousel
Histoire archivistique
Source immédiate d'acquisition ou de transfert
Zone du contenu et de la structure
Portée et contenu
This file contains correspondence and notes relating to the first performance of Isadora at the Royal Opera House in 1981 and subsequent performances in the UK and in the US. It comprises
- Two photocopies and two typed memos between Royal Opera House departments confirming performers for Isadora in London and in America, and details of photocalls, 5 Nov 1980-22 Apr 1981
- Four page handwritten letter from actress Jennifer Sternberg explaining to Kenneth MacMillan why she cannot cover the role of Isadora in London. 21 Aug 1981, with envelope
- Handwritten card from Mary Morse-Boycott, actress at the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan offering herself for a role in Isadora, with envelope. 13 Feb [1981]
- Handwritten letter from Peter Maxwell to Kenneth MacMillan giving details of his movements and whether he can be of use for the Tango, with envelope. 4 Mar 1981
- Handwritten letter from Madeleine Lytton to Kenneth MacMillan giving her credentials as a teacher and performer of Isadora Duncan's dances and criticising Kenneth MacMillan's ballet. With black and white postcard of her in a Duncan solo, two page typed biography and two pages of excerpts of reviews of her work. 9 Jun [?]1981
- Handwritten letter from Jonathan Frank to Kenneth MacMillan enclosing the unfinished play by George Bernard Shaw about Isadora Duncan, 'supposedly dictated by Shaw to Rosemary Brown in the after-life'. Four photocopied pages. Undated
- Correspondence between Kenneth MacMillan and Nesta MacDonald regarding a visit and possible use of new material in Isadora. 20 Jul 1979 - 20 Mar 1981
- Typed letter from Wm.F.Cox and Kenneth MacMillan about the possible use of an alternative car in Isadora, with a colour photograph of the car, 27 May 1981
- Typed letter from John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan in response to John Percival's negative review of Isadora. Also discussing the forthcoming performances in America and proposed cuts to the ballet, 22 May 1982 (possibly 1981)
- Photocopy of the cast-page from the Royal Opera House programme for Isadora with Kenneth MacMillan's handwritten inscription to Phyllis Adams, his first teacher
- Handwritten letter from Merle Park to Kenneth MacMillan thanking him for the opportunity of Isadora and for his faith in her. Accompanied by a handwritten note about the watercolour painting by Edward Seago that Merle Park gave Kenneth MacMillan on the occasion of the world premiere of Isadora. 4May 1981
- Correspondence about copyright clearances for the texts spoken during Isadora, 16 Feb 1981 - 2 Apr 1981
- Typed copy of an interview with Kenneth MacMillan by Clement Crisp about Isadora, with a typed covering note on The R.A.D. Production Club letter headed paper to Dere Boss from Choo San GohGoh. Undated
- Memo from Iris Law to Kenneth MacMillan asking him to call Barry (Kay) in the Pattern Room at the Royal Opera House. Urgent. Undated
- Note to Kenneth MacMillan to say that Barry Wordsworth had to go to the BBC. Undated
- Handwritten note from Barry Kay to Kenneth Aadams. 29 Sep 1980
- Typed letter from Henry Fryer, Publications Editor at the Royal Opera House, enclosing the programme copy from Isadora and asking Kenneth MacMillan if he would like any changes or additions. 29 Mar 1983
- Handwritten letter from Romayne Grigorova, Ballet Mistress for The Royal Opera, explaining why she had not been at the audition for Isadora, undated, with envelope (with re Isadora 'extra' in blue biro by Jann Parry on front of envelope)
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Zone des conditions d'accès et d'utilisation
Conditions d'accès
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Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Caractéristiques matérielle et contraintes techniques
Finding aids
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Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Zone des notes
Note
Letter from Barry Kay to Kenneth Aadams, the catalogue entry needs expanding- show to Deborah MacMillan for further information
Identifiant(s) alternatif(s)
Mots-clés
Mots-clés - Sujets
Mots-clés - Lieux
Mots-clés - Noms
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Sujet)
- Kay, Barry (Sujet)