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Archival description
Anastasia
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/4 · File · 1971-1980, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Kenneth MacMillan created a three-act version of Anastasia for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 22 Jul 1971 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The material comprises:

  1. A copy of French's Acting Edition No.967, The Recognition Scene from Anastasia by Marcelle Maurette, English Adaptation by Guy Bolton
  2. A typed letter from John E. Manahan to Vernon Clarke, Manager of The Royal Ballet, 1 Jul 1971. The letter states that his wife, Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia, joins him in granting free and unrestricted use of her name to The Royal Ballet for the forthcoming production of Anastasia. On letter head of The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia, USA
  3. Telegram to Kenneth MacMillan from Ursula Moreton, with love and best wishes for the first night, 22 Jul 1971
  4. Telegram to Kenneth MacMillan from Ninette de Valois, 'Dear Kenneth you know how much I would have a great ballet meet with recognition and success for its Choreographer My Love Madam', 22 Jul 1971
  5. Postcard from John Osborne, congratulating MacMillan, 23 Jul 1971
  6. Handwritten letter from HRH Princess Margaret, congratulating Dear Kenneth on a really wonderful ballet and hoping he took absolutely no notice of the foully aggressive piece in The Times. On Kensington Palace headed notepaper with hand addressed envelope, 27 Jul 1971
  7. Carbon copy of an interview by Rodney Milnes, titled Anastasia, discussing with Kenneth MacMillan the adverse press reaction to the ballet, the complexities of the narrative and cuts that MacMillan proposes to make. (Later published in Harpers & Queen, October 1971).
  8. Press cutting of a Tabriz carpet of c. 1914 depicting Tsar Nicholas II, together with the Tsarina Alexander and the Tsarevich, Alexis. From Michael [Oliver] to Kenneth, 15 May 1980
MacMillan, Kenneth
Concerto
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/11 · File · 1967-1982, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

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
Erasmus Foundation Prize
RAD/2/MAC/7/13/3 · File · 1974
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

The Erasmus Prize Foundation was established on 23 Jun 1958 by HRH the Prince of the Netherlands, "to confer one or more monetary prizes ... as awards to individuals or institutions having made a for Europe particularly important contribution in the cultural, social or social-scientific sphere". The 1974 recipients were Dame Ninette de Valois and Maurice Bejart.
This file comprises:

  1. Typed letter from the Director of the Erasmus Prize Foundation inviting Kenneth MacMillan to the 1974 prize-giving evening, 11 Apr 1974, with typed programme for the evening on 21 Jun 1974
  2. Printed souvenir programme for the prize-giving event illustrated with b/w photographs, 21 Jun 1974
  3. Printed souvenir of the Erasmus Prize giving history and purpose of the prize, and speeches from the 21 Jun 1974 event, illustrated with b/w photographs, with a compliments slip
MacMillan, Kenneth
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/22/5 · Part · 1978, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

This file contains letters and telegrams of good luck plus letters of congratulations. There are two invitations to the receptions at the Royal Opera House following the first performance and a letter from Denis Healey, on Treasury Chambers headed notepaper, thanking Kenneth MacMillan for the offer of tickets for the premiere

Le Baiser de la fee, 1960
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/5 · File · 1960, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Le Baiser de la fee for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 12 Apr 1960 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The material comprises:

  1. A handwritten letter from Ninette de Valois with some suggestions for improvements, particularly to the Svetlana Beriosova role as the fairy. Undated
  2. Telegram from Leo Lerman in New York to Kenneth MacMillan at the King's Theatre, Glasgow. 'Baiser Marvelous as Ever', 29 Sep 1960
MacMillan, Kenneth
Ninette de Valois
RAD/2/MAC/6/1/3 · File · 1982-1994, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Ninette de Valois was the Founder Director of The Royal Ballet and commissioned the first ballet from Kenneth MacMillan. The material in this file comprises

  1. Five Christmas cards, four to Kenneth and Deborah and one to Charlotte MacMillan, undated
  2. Handwritten letter on Royal Opera House headed notepaper, wishing Kenneth MacMillan every success, 'Not many approved of 'The Rake' 1st time!', Mar 2nd, no year
  3. Handwritten letter thanking them both for the telegram. Mentions crutches. 'I hear that Manon was terrific', 21 Jan 1982
  4. Handwritten letter expressing regret that Kenneth MacMillan was unable to attend the gala, and that he's missing the School show - 'a talent spotting occassion (sic) for choreographers', undated but envelope postmarked 13 Jun 1988
  5. Handwritten letter expressing delight in his American award, the Performing Arts EMMY Award for A Lot of Happiness, 1982, undated but envelope postmarked 29 Nov 1982
  6. Typed letter reporting has been in bed for nearly a fortnight with shingles, and asking him to telephone when he is back from America, 26 Jun 1985
  7. Handwritten letter thanking him for his lovely new divertissement, Soiree Musicale, performed by pupils of the Royal Ballet School at the Royal Opera House, London for Ninette de Valois' 90th birthday, undated but envelope postmarked 28 Jul 1988
  8. Typed letter to Deborah MacMillan thanking her for the party. 'Dear Kenneth would dig himself in on a lonely hill like that!', 10 Aug 1994
MacMillan, Kenneth
Noctambules
RAD/2/MAC/3/1/28 · File · 1956, undated
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Noctambules for Sadler's Wells Ballet which premiered on 1 Mar 1956 at the Royal Opera House, London. The material in this file comprises

  1. One hand drawn cartoon with the inscription 'a certain mysterious veiled lady wishes you good luck for your work on Noctambules...9 Jan 1956', by Jeffrey Solomons. Unsigned but identified by Deborah MacMillan
  2. Six telegrams wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck on the first night of Noctambules, from Michael Somes, All at (Sadler's Wells) Theatre Ballet, Margot Fonteyn, 'Madam' (Ninette de Valois), Vivien and Laurence Olivier, and Robert Irving, 1 Mar 1956
  3. Handwritten letter from Leslie Edwards on Royal Opera House headed notepaper to Kenneth MacMillan thanking him for entrusting him with such a wonderful role, undated
  4. Three handwritten pages on two sheets of paper of analysis and suggestions for alterations to the choreography, by Ninette de Valois, undated
RAD/2/MAC/7/23/1 · File · 1978-1983
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Correspondence from administrative and artistic staff at the Royal Opera House including Anthony Russell Roberts, John Tooley, Paul Findlay, Peter Wright and Norman Morrice, the press and publications departments. It includes a handwritten draft and typed letter from Kenneth MacMillan to the Editor of The Guardian Newspaper and a typed letter from Peter Wright to Linda Christmas, in response to her article criticising MacMillan's period as Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet, concerns raised by Kenneth MacMillan and Norman Morrice about technical standards at the Royal Opera House, events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Royal Ballet and Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1981, a performance of Romeo and Juliet to celebrate the marriage of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales, 1981, Ninette de Valois's 80th birthday, the proposed premiere of The Prince of the Pagodas in 1983, to Cameron Mackintosh Productions re the possible release of Stephen Jefferies, the Financial Scrutiny of the Royal Opera House by Clive Priestley, the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House, possible performances by Natalia Makarova in the 1984/85 season.
There are handwritten letters from Ninette de Valois and her brother Gordon Anthony re Madam's 80th birthday, from Colin Davis and Norman Morrice, and postcards from Peter Wright from Yugoslavia, 1981, from Leslie Edwards, Monica Parker and Michael Somes from Japan and China, 1983.
Interdepartmental communications give details of press nights, interviews and photographers

MacMillan, Kenneth
RAD/2/MAC/7/23/2 · File · 1984-1989
Part of Kenneth MacMillan Archive Collection

Administrative correspondence includes minutes and notes of meetings of the Development Working Group, 1984, re Manon in Australia, Anastasia, 1985, video recordings at the Royal Opera House, 1986-87, the revivals of Rite of Spring and Romeo and Juliet in 1987/88 and 1989, dedicating performances of Gloria and Requiem to the memory of Julian Hosking and Greg Bellamy, 1989, the proposed move of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet to Birmingham, 1989, request from Hong Kong Ballet to purchase Rituals, 1989, and plans for celebrations for Kenneth MacMillan's 60th birthday in 1989. A letter from Bernard Haitink expresses his joy at conducting performances of Romeo and Juliet, 1989.
Press cuttings cover the dispute between Kenneth MacMillan and Michael Somes, 1984, Norman Morrice's response to criticisms over standards at The Royal Ballet, 1985, and a short interview with Jennifer Penney, 1985.
Press releases cover the appointment of Kenneth MacMillan as Artistic Associate of American Ballet Theatre, 1984, and of Isaiah Jackson as Music Director of The Royal Ballet, 1987, and there are interdepartmental communications listing press nights.
There is correspondence:

  1. between Kenneth MacMillan, Ninette de Valois and Ann Nugent following Nugent's article in The Stage reporting Madam's criticism of contemporary choreographers, plus a copy of the article, 1985
  2. between John Sainsbury and Kenneth MacMillan re MacMillan's concern at the Board's lack of confidence in him, plus a letter from Jeremy Isaacs to Maggi Hambling in response to MacMillan's concern expressed in an article in the Evening Standard, 1989
  3. from Ninette de Valois recommending Rumer Godden [possibly to assist with the scenario for The Prince of the Pagodas], n.d.
  4. Kenneth MacMillan's handwritten notes and final version of a tribute to Barry Kay, plus copies of the order of service and a handwritten card from Michael [Werner], and a telegram from John Tooley expressing sympathy, 1985
    There is a menu for a dinner in honour of Claus Moser, 1987, and two copies of the Order for the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Sir Frederick Ashton, 1988
MacMillan, Kenneth