Kenneth MacMillan at Houston Ballet
One of the century’s greatest choreographers, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, served as Houston Ballet’s artistic associate from 1989 until his death in 1992
Sir Kenneth MacMillan_HeadshotHouston Ballet
Sir Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992)
Hailed as one of the century’s greatest choreographers, Sir Kenneth MacMillan received his dance training at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, now The Royal Ballet. He was director of the Berlin Ballet from 1966 until he left to direct The Royal Ballet in the 1970-71 season.
Sir Kenneth MacMillan served as Houston Ballet’s artistic associate from 1989 until his death in 1992. Houston Ballet has six works by Sir Kenneth in its repertoire: Song of the Earth, Gloria, Elite Syncopations, Solitaire, Manon and Mayerling.
Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Jim Caldwell.Houston Ballet
Song of Earth
The ballet Song of Earth premiered with the Houston Ballet on June 9, 1988, its world premiere was in 1965 with Stuttgart Ballet. Set to music by Gustav Mahler, it features designs by Nicholas Georgiadis.
Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Jim Caldwell.Houston Ballet
Gloria
The Houston Ballet presented its first performance of Gloria on September 21, 1989. The ballet, featuring designs by Andy Klunder, is a moving elegy to the men lost in World War I, set to music by Francis Poulenc. The world premiere of Gloria was in 1980 with the Royal Ballet.
Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Geoff Winningham.Houston Ballet
Elite Syncopations
The energetic Elite Syncopations debuted with the Houston Ballet on September 6, 1990. The ballet features ragtime music by Scott Joplin and others, with designs by Ian Spurling. Elite Syncopations originally premiered in 1974.
Artists of Houston Ballet. Photo by Geoff Winningham.Houston Ballet
Solitaire
Solitaire premiered with Houston Ballet on June 6, 1991, but originally premiered at the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1956. This one-act ballet features a lone female character and was designed by Desmond Heely with music by Malcolm Arnold.
Mark Arvin as Des Grieux and Tiekka Schofield as Manon. Photo by Geoff Winningham.Houston Ballet
Manon
Manon, a dramatic ballet based on the love story of Manon and Des Grieux, premiered on Houston Ballet May 19, 1994. The ballet originally premiered in 1974 on the Royal Ballet and has designs by Nicholas Georgiadis and music by Jules Massenet.
Karina González and Connor Walsh. Photo by Amitava Sarkar.Houston Ballet
Mayerling
Kenneth MacMillan's dramatic Mayerling premiered at Houston Ballet on September 22, 2017, after it originally premiered with the Royal Ballet in 1978. Based on a real-life tragedy, it's a dark ballet set to Franz Liszt's music with designs by Nicholas Georgiadis.
