- Additional Authors
- Gruen, John
- Description
- Two streaming files (approximately one hour and 22 minutes): digital, stereo
- Summary
- Streaming file 1 (approximately 41 minutes). Erik Bruhn speaks with John Gruen about first coming to dance with ABT [Ballet Theatre, later American Ballet Theatre] under the auspices of Blevins Davis and returning in 1951 at Lucia Chase's invitation; [Vera] Volkova and her influence on him and on the Danish Royal Ballet [Kongelige Danske ballet] school; her teaching methods; his Bournonville training compared with Rudolf Nureyev's Russian training; touring with Ballet Theatre as a soloist including his frequently being mistaken for Eric Braun; his partner Lupe Serrano; opening the New York season with Nora Kaye in the Black Swan pas de deux; his relationship with Lucia Chase including their frequent disputes; ABT's crucial role in his international fame; his refusal to dance again in David Blair's version of Swan lake; Frederic Ashton's Romeo and Juliet; the period after he left Ballet Theatre including his return to Denmark and his involvement with the controversy centering on Harald Lander; dancing internationally as a guest artist [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 2].
- Streaming file 2 (approximately 41 minutes). Erik Bruhn speaks with John Gruen about his mother, including an anecdote about her meeting Rudolf Nureyev for the first time; her death; touring with ABT [American Ballet Theatre] and dancing with Lupe Serrano; other dancers in the company; dancing with the Royal Ballet including his partner Nadia Nerina; the company's version of The sleeping beauty; the reviews of his performances; Nureyev, including how he was represented in the press; the period after he left the Royal Ballet including touring with the Royal Danish Ballet; Carla Fracci [ends abruptly].
- Donor/Sponsor
- Oral History Archive. Gift of John Gruen.
- Subjects
- Genre/Form
- Interviews.
- Sound recordings.
- Note
- Interview with Erik Bruhn conducted by John Gruen as research for his book Erik Bruhn: danseur noble (1979), in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 21, 1977. This is Part 6 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 6
- Title supplied by cataloger.
- Sound quality is fair. The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise and shifts in volume. Erik Bruhn's voice is almost always easily intelligible; John Gruen's voice is often soft and difficult to understand.
- 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
- 922543495
- Author
Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986, interviewee.
- Title
Interview with Erik Bruhn. Part 6, 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, July 21 Copenhagen, Denmark
- 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 22 minutes); quarter-track; 1.875 ips.; transferred to wav file and streaming file (myd_mgztco3763_v06f01_sc and myd_mgztco3763_v06f02_sc) formats in 2014.
- Source
Gift, John Gruen
- Connect to:
- Added Author
Gruen, John, interviewer.
- Research Call Number
*MGZTC 3-763 (former)