Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1984-1987 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Two handwritten letters, two handwritten postcards, three typed letters, three greetings cards and three pages of photocopies
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
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
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Kenneth MacMillan created the Venusburg Ballet for Richard Wagner's opera Tannhauser using dancers from London Contemporary Dance Theatre which received its premiere on 25.9.1984 at the Royal Opera House, London.
The material comprises
- Photocopies of correspondence between Elijah Moshinsky, director, and John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House, London, 9.1.1984 and 11.1.1984
- Two handwritten postcards from Elijah Moshinsky to Kenneth MacMillan, one enclosing a copy of the score, one thanking MacMillan for his work
- One handwritten and one typed letter from Colin Davis, Music Director of The Royal Opera and conductor for Tannhauser, to Kenneth MacMillan both expressing his pleasure at the prospect of working with Kenneth MacMillan and one enclosing a tape of the music for the ballet, 22.3.1984 and 5.6.1984
- One typed letter from Rashna Homji to Kenneth MacMillan, suggesting some alternative dancers in the event she is unable to appear in Tannhauser, 10.7.1984
- One typed letter from the Contracts Manager at the Royal Opera House, London to Kenneth MacMillan, confirming the dancers engaged for Tannhauser, 18.7.1984
- Two greetings cards from dancers to Kenneth MacMillan on the first night, 25.9.1984
- One greetings card from Romayne Grigorova, Ballet Mistress of The Royal Opera
- One handwritten letter from Elijah Moshinsky, Director of Tannhauser, to Kenneth MacMillan apologising for not explaining that his ballet would not be included in the revival of Tannhauser, 1.8.1987
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Wagner, Richard (Subject)
- Davis, Colin (Subject)
- Royal Opera House, London (Subject)
- Moshinsky, Elijah (Subject)