Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Requiem for the Stuttgart Ballet which received its premiere on 28 Nov 1976 at the Wurttemberg State Theatre, Stuttgart, Germany. The ballet is a memorial to John Cranko who had died three years earlier. Kenneth MacMillan had intended to create the ballet for The Royal Ballet but the Board of the Royal Opera House considered the use of Faure's Requiem unsuitable for a ballet. The Royal Ballet first performed the work in 1983. The material in this file comprises:

1. One handwritten draft letter from Kenneth MacMillan to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking his opinion on the use of the Requiem to create a dance work. One carbon copy of this letter typed , 9 Mar 1976. One typed letter from Allan Wicks, The Organist, Canterbury Cathedral to Kenneth MacMillan, responding on behalf of the Archbishop. He sees no objection to the music being used to create a ballet, 15 Mar 1976
2. Handwritten note from Jasia Reichardt to Yolanda Sonnabend, designer of Requiem, attaching a ground plan for the Wurttemberg State Theatre, Stuttgart, showing the scenery for Requiem. Undated
3. Three good luck telegrams for the first night in Stuttgart, from The Royal Ballet Press Office, Barry [Kay] and John (?), one with envelope. 26 Nov 1976
4. One page from Dance and Dancers, with comment asking what the Board of the Royal Opera House does, and why they refused Kenneth MacMillan permission to use Faure's Requiem for a ballet
5. Handwritten letter from Alan Beale to Kenneth MacMillan saying what a triumph Requiem had been in Washington. Dated June 1st, Washington. Envelope date stamped 2 Jun 1977 (Alan Beale re Stuttgart written in blue biro on front of envelope by Jann Parry) in blue ink, with decorations by Charlotte MacMillan in black felt pen on the letter and envelope
6. Typed letter from Peter J. Rosenwald enclosing a review from the Wall Street Journal for the first night in New York, and praising the ballet, 28 Jun 1977 (the review is filed with Press Cuttings)
7. Three good luck telegrams for the first night in London by the Stuttgart Ballet, 2 Jun 1978
8. Hand written letter from Pauline Clayden to Kenneth MacMillan, thanking him for Requiem, 5 Jun 1978, with envelope
9. Handwritten letter from Richard Ralph, Principal of London Contemporary Dance School, to Kenneth MacMillan expressing admiration for Requiem, after a performance by The Royal Ballet, 8 Dec 1983, with envelope
10. Four pages of record sleeve notes for a recording by EMI, with handwritten annotations by Kenneth MacMillan in turquoise felt pen. Gives dancers names and timings (large)

Photographs of the first performance by The Royal Ballet of Requiem

Photographs of Marcia Haydee and Richard Cragun in Requiem, with photocopies of further photographs some taken from Hurst Kogler and Leslie E Spatt's book The Stuttgart Ballet

Anya Sainsbury was a dancer with The Royal Ballet, as Anya Linden, and created roles in several of Kenneth MacMillan's early ballets. She married John Sainsbury and they were great supporters of The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House as well as friends of Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan. The material in this file comprises

1. One page handwritten note from John Sainsbury to Kenneth and Debbie thanking them for their birthday wishes, dated Nov 8th, no year
2. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth, c/o the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, forwarding Kate (Firestone's) contact details in California where Anya is staying, and sending best wishes for the forthcoming performances of Isadora in New York, undated but envelope postmarked June 1981
3. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth congratulating him on the revival of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 26.10.1987
4. One page handwritten letter from John to Kenneth, sending congratulations for the performance of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 27.10.(1987)
5. Handwritten note to Kenneth from John and Anya (written by John) praising the performance 'of a true work of genius', undated by accompanied by a typed compliments slip dated 13.10.1989. The note refers to the performance of Requiem on 12.10.1989
6. Handwritten pencil draft of a thank you letter to John and Anya for the holiday on Crete that Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte spent with the Sainsburys in 1991. Unrelated notes on the reverse in blue biro

Kenneth MacMillan's one-act ballet Requiem was nominated for the Outstanding New Ballet Production for 1980. This file contains one typed memo from Peter Brownlee informing of the change of date for the presentation of the award from Dec 1983 to 22 Jan 1984, one typed letter from John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House, offering congratulations, 25 Jan 1984, two souvenir programmes, one ticket for the Presentation of the Awards and two tickets to A Champagne Buffet Party, 22 Jan 1984, and a silk bag with red cord tie with a typed self-adhesive label.