The Invitation

Ballet in 5 scenes

Original choreography by Kenneth MacMillan

Edition: Performance material

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Description

A young girl and her cousin encounter an older, disillusioned married couple at a party. The boy is flattered by the older woman’s interest; at the same time, the young girl develops a sexual attraction for the man – until he launches a brutal attack on her. Mátyás Seiber composed the music for The Invitation in 1960 in close collaboration with Kenneth MacMillan who provided a detailed sketch of the balletic narrative. Inspired by the French New Wave era in film, it was MacMillan’s intention to bring a contemporary ballet to the stage which was critical of the times. The Invitation was Seiber’s final composition: the composer was killed in a car accident shortly after completing this work. The ballet remained in the repertoire of the Royal Ballet Company in Covent Garden up to 1968. Lynn Seymour, attractive both as a ballerina and an actress, made the role of the young girl famous. In 2016, MacMillan’s still modern choreography returned to the repertoire of the ballet company it was composed for.

Orchestral Cast

2(2.pic).2(1.ca).2(2.bcl).2-4.3.3.1-timp.3-5perc(glsp, xyl, vib, tri, 3cym, sus cym, gong, tamb, bng, 2s.d, 3tom-t, b.d, ten d, cast, clav, wdbl, tempbl, slapstick)-hp.pno(cel)-str

Cast

2 dancers - 6 small dancers - children - acrobat - comedians

More Information

Title:

The Invitation

Ballet in 5 scenes

Original choreography by Kenneth MacMillan

Edition:

Performance material

Publisher/Label:

Schott Music Ltd., London

Year of composition:

1960

Duration:

56 ′

World Premiere:

October 13, 1960 · Milan (I)
La Scala

Costumes: Nicholas Georgiadis · Set design: Nicholas Georgiadis · Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan · The Royal Ballet Touring Company