Research Catalog

Interview with George Balanchine, March 20

Title
Interview with George Balanchine, March 20, 1975.
Author
Balanchine, George
Publication
1975

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
Manchester, P. W. (Phyllis Winifred)
Description
Two streaming files (approximately 31 minutes) : digital, stereo
Summary
  • Streaming file 1 (approximately 25 minutes). George Balanchine speaks with Phyllis Winifred Manchester about Katherine Littlefield and her help in finding dancers for his first works in the United States; Mikhail [Michel] Fokin and his review of Balanchine's Serenade; American Ballet Company; his time as choreographer for the Metropolitan Opera including an anecdote about his ballet for a production of Carmen; his time in England including his friendship with [Lydia] Lopokova and her husband [John] Maynard Keynes; meeting Lincoln Kirstein and being invited to come to the United States; moving his new school [School of American Ballet] from Hartford [Connecticut] to New York City; the training of ballet dancers including his training in Russia; adapting the training process to conditions in the United States; the sometimes incongruous use of French language terms in ballet; his first meeting with Igor Stravinsky, in connection with Le chant du rossignol; meeting [Henri] Matisse [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 2].
  • Streaming file 2 (approximately 6 minutes). George Balanchine continues to speak with Phyllis Winifred Manchester about meeting Matisse; more on Stravinsky and Le chant du rossignol including the casting of Alicia Markova; an anecdote about the tempo and Stravinsky and Diaghilev; Stravinsky's comments, respectively, on his compositions Apollo and Orpheus.
Donor/Sponsor
Gift of P. W. Manchester. Oral History Archive.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Interviews.
  • Sound recordings.
Note
  • Interview with George Balanchine conducted by Phyllis Winifred Manchester, as host, on March 20, 1975 at the New York Public Library Dance Collection [now the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division]. The interview was intended for use on the National Public Radio series Arabesques, but not broadcast.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
  • Sound quality is good. The recording is marred by slight "tape hiss," but the speakers' voices are easily intelligible.
Access (note)
  • Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at NYPL research libraries.
Funding (note)
  • The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.
Source (note)
  • Manchester, P.W.
Call Number
*MGZTC 3-291 (former)
OCLC
84060505
Author
Balanchine, George, interviewee.
Title
Interview with George Balanchine, March 20, 1975.
Production
1975
Type of Content
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
Type of Carrier
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Restricted Access
Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at NYPL research libraries.
Event
Recorded by Phyllis Winifred Manchester March 20, 1975 New York (N.Y.)
Funding
The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.
Original Version
Original format: one sound reel (approximately 31 minutes); 5"; polyester; two-track, 7.5 ips.
Source
Gift; Manchester, P.W.
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Manchester, P. W. (Phyllis Winifred), interviewer.
Research Call Number
*MGZTC 3-291 (former)
View in Legacy Catalog