The material in this file covers performances of Kenneth MacMillan's ballet Elite Syncopations at the Bayerische Staatsoper. It contains correspondence from Ronald [Hynd] asking Kenneth MacMillan to stage the ballet in Munich, thanking him for attending the premiere, and explaining why he is leaving as Artistic Director, 7 Nov 1984 - 15 May 1986. There is material relating to the legal dispute arising from whether the musicians should be obliged to perform on stage, including a letter (in German) from Wolfgang Sawallisch, Director of the Bayerische Staatsoper, and from Kathleen Quinn, News Assistant at the New York Times, with copies of a press release from the Bavarian State Opera and the German Orchestra Association, 30 Mar 1988 and 29 Mar 1988. There are two press cuttings about the dispute and a letter from an American academic asking for information, 28 Sep 1992

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Elite Syncopations for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 7.10.1974 at the Royal Opera House, London. This folder is one of two containing pages of a working copy in pencil and pen and ink of the choreographic score prepared for The Royal Ballet by Douglas Stuart. This file contains:

1. A Title page with cast
2. Title page for Sunflower Slow Drag plus 27 numbered pages, one A4 page and one unnumbered page
3. Opening Sunflower Slow Drag - four pages
4. Bethina Waltz pas de deux - title page plus 14 large and seven smaller pages
5. Stoptime Rag - title page plus 14 pages and one empty page
6. Nightingale Rag - title page plus 38 large and 10 smaller pages
7. Golden Hours - five pages

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Elite Syncopations for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 7.10.1974 at the Royal Opera House, London. This folder is one of two containing pages of a working copy of the Benesh Movement Notation score in pencil and pen and ink prepared for The Royal Ballet by Douglas Steuart. This file contains:

1. Brown card cover with title Opening with 34 pages Opening Sunflower Slow Drag
2. Brown card cover with Elite Syncopations Nightingale with 21 pages
3. Pas de deux Golden Hours, two pages
4. Brown card cover with Stoptime Rag with six pages and three smaller pages
5. Brown card cover with Bethena Waltz and six pages
6. Friday Night - two pages and two photocopied pages
7. Nightingale - 1 page

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Elite Syncopations for The Royal Ballet which premiered at the Royal Opera House on 7 Oct 1974. The material comprises:

1. 11 telegrams wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck for the first night, including from John Auld and the Touring Group, Barbara Fewster, Ann Jenner, John Tooley, Peter Wright, colleagues at The Royal Ballet, 7 Oct 1974
2. One telegram from Becky with covering note from Ken Davison, Organising Secretary of The Friends of Covent Garden, 8 Oct 1974
3. Two page handwritten letter from Zoe Dominic, photographer, to Kenneth MacMillan expressing her admiration for Elite Syncopations, 20 Oct 1974
4. One card signed 'With Love from The Elite Cast', n.d. (large)
5. One envelope with Kenneth MacMillan's handwritten notes Elite and numbers of girls, boys, men and ladies

This stereo long playing record is of the music by Scott Joplin and others used by Kenneth MacMillan in his ballet Elite Syncopations and was recorded by CRD Records Ltd in 1976 using members of the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The record sleeve is decorated with costume designs by Ian Spurling and photographs of the musicians by Richard Holttum. There is a sleeve note by Noel Goodwin

Kenneth MacMillan became Artistic Associate of Houston Ballet in August 1989, the Company having previously performed Song of the Earth in 1987. They performed Gloria in 1989, Elite Syncopations in 1990 and Solitaire in 1991. The correspondence in this file is largely concerned with agreements and arrangements for these ballets and for MacMillan's role as Artistic Associate. It includes a letter of agreement for Manon which was ultimately not performed until 1993, the year after MacMillan's death. It also includes handwritten cast lists for Song of the Earth and Elite Syncopations

This file contains correspondence between Patricia Wilde, Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet, her office, Kenneth MacMillan and Ros Chatto, his agent, about terms and conditions for the Company performing Elite Syncopations, 1992

This stereo long playing record of Ragtime Classics by Scott Joplin, directed by Gunther Schuller, was issued by EMI Records Ltd in 1973. It includes several of the pieces that Kenneth MacMillan used in his ballet Elite Syncopations

Three typed faxes from the Royal Ballet of Flanders to Kenneth MacMillan, requesting permission to perform Elite Syncopations, 1991-1992