An introduction to The Royal Ballet's MacMillan Celebrated (2024)

The Royal Ballet celebrates the endless invention of Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan through his one-act ballets, Danses Concertantes, Different Drummer and Requiem. Kenneth MacMillan (1929–92) was a leading choreographer of his generation. Renowned for his full-length dramatic works which dug deep into the human psyche, MacMillan’s creativity knew no bounds. His one-act works also reshaped the collective identity of The Royal Ballet, challenging the art form to reflect real-life emotions, passions and human frailty. Danses Concertantes, commissioned by Ninette de Valois in 1955, was MacMillan’s first major work. Intricate choreography and dynamic formations characterise this kaleidoscopic work, set to Stravinsky's dynamic music. An early sign of the incredible artistic output that would follow, the work’s critical success spurred MacMillan to abandon performing in favour of choreography. It is followed by Different Drummer, MacMillan’s complex and haunting balletic interpretation of Woyzeck, Georg Büchner’s story of pain, desperation and murder. Following a soldier’s descent into madness, Different Drummer is an unflinching portrait of fragility in the face of trauma. The mixed programme concludes with Requiem, his 1976 work for Stuttgart Ballet, created in memory of its late artistic director, MacMillan’s friend and former Royal Ballet dancer and choreographer John Cranko. Set to Faure’s poignant music, this luminous ensemble work is a portrait of a ballet company coming to terms with the loss of its beloved leader. Watch Royal Ballet dancers and coaches in rehearsal for MacMillan Celebrated on Royal Ballet and Opera Stream: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-ev... Watch Danses Concertantes: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-ev... Watch Different Drummer: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-ev... Watch Requiem: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-ev... #RoyalBalletAndOpera Enjoy this video? Subscribe to our channel for more:    / @royalballetandopera   For more: Royal Ballet and Opera Stream sign up now: https://bit.ly/3V0JMaO Tickets: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-ev... Instagram:   / royalballetandopera   Facebook:   / royalballetandopera   TikTok:   / royalballetandopera   X: https://x.com/rbo_org Threads: https://www.threads.net/@royalballeta... LinkedIn:   / royalballetandopera