- Additional Authors
- Gruen, John
- Description
- Two streaming files (approximately one hour and 28 minutes): digital, stereo
- Summary
- Streaming file 1 (approximately 46 minutes). Erik Bruhn speaks with John Gruen about his three farewell performances, before he was 26, with the Royal Danish Ballet [Kongelige Danske ballet] including an anecdote about King Frederick IX; his tendency even as a student to resist mere imitation, particularly in mime class; the fiasco of his debut as James in La sylphide followed by his success in London; coaching dancers including Fernando [Bujones] and Ivan [Nagy] in the role at ABT [American Ballet Theatre]; teaching the role to Rudolf Nureyev; his interpretation of James; his interpretation of the Sylph; [August] Bournonville's ballet Folk tale [Folkesagn] in which he danced the Prince; returning to the Danish Royal Ballet in 1952 and becoming the target of politically-motivated criticism; the role of the Prince in The sleeping beauty; his own production of Swan lake for the National Ballet of Canada [ends abruptly].
- Streaming file 2 (approximately 42 minutes). Erik Bruhn speaks with John Gruen about his own production of Swan lake including as compared to a version choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev in 1964; his having changed the gender of Rothbart from male to female; the role of Albrecht in Giselle including his dancing it so frequently [with American Ballet Theatre] that it became stale; rediscovering the role with Yvette Chauviré; Margot Fonteyn including her partnership with Rudolf Nureyev and why he never danced with her; his interpretation of the Moor [in José Limón's The moor's pavane]; the role of Petrouchka, the Russian soul, and human suffering; stage make-up as part of becoming a character; his Coppélia, for the National Ballet of Canada.
- Donor/Sponsor
- Oral History Archive. Gift of John Gruen.
- Subjects
- Genre/Form
- Interviews.
- Sound recordings.
- Note
- For edited transcript of interview see: *MGZMT 3-763 Reel 14.
- Interview with Erik Bruhn conducted by John Gruen as research for his book Erik Bruhn: danseur noble (1979), in New York, N,Y., on September 29, 1977. This is Part 14 of an 18-part series. However, there is no audio for parts 2 and 10, which are available only as edited transcripts.
- For edited transcript of this recording see: *MGZMT 3-763, reel 14.
- Title supplied by cataloger.
- Sound quality is good.
- Access (note)
- Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
- 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)
- Call Number
- *MGZTC 3-763 (former)
- OCLC
- 922545349
- Author
Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986, interviewee.
- Title
Interview with Erik Bruhn. Part 14, 1977
- Production
1977
- 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 The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
- Event
Recorded by John Gruen 1977, September 29 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 cassette (approximately one hour and 28 minutes); quarter-track; 1.875 ips.; transferred to wav file and streaming file (myd_mgztco3763_v14f01_sc and myd_mgztco3763_v14f02_sc) formats in 2014.
- Source
Gift, John Gruen
- Connect to:
- Added Author
Gruen, John, interviewer.
- Research Call Number
*MGZTC 3-763 (former)