Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. June 6 and 7, 2000 [sound recording].

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013.

Publication

2000.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Moseley, Monica.
• Aloff, Mindy, 1947-
• Reynolds, Nancy, 1938-
• George Balanchine Foundation.

Description

3 sound cassettes (ca. 144 min.) +

Summary

• Cassette 16, side A, 06/06/00 (ca. 38 min.). The recording includes Frederic Franklin's comments on photographs and drawings of ballets shown to him at the interview. Franklin speaks about Tatiana Chamié's ballet Prima ballerina; the cast, including Karel Shook and Leon Danielian; relates anecdotes about Chamié, as a person and as a teacher; comments on designs and costumes for the ballet Prince Igor [the version after Fokin?]; learning the role of the Chief warrior for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo production; Michel Fokine's comments on Franklin's performance; difficulty of the role of the Chief warrior; comments on drawings and photographs of the ballet. [Ends abruptly.]
• Cassette 16, side B, 06/06/00 (ca. 38 min.). Discussion of Prince Igor continues; Franklin speaks about the ballet Quelques fleurs, including the set; the funding of the ballet by the perfume company Houbigant; comments on photographs of the ballet; the ballet Raymonda [as choreographed by George Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova after Petipa for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1946]; tells anecdotes about the ballet, including Danilova's description of the choreography to Franklin; performing the ballet on tour; comments on drawings of set designs for the ballet; performing with Nikita Talin on tour; comments on photographs of the ballet; rehearsing while on tour; problems with the ballet; begins speaking about Igor Shvetzov's ballet Red poppy. [Ends abruptly.]
• Cassette 17, side A, 06/06/00 (ca. 30 min.). Franklin continues speaking about Red poppy, including the choreography, the ballet's popularity on tour, and Alexandra Danilova and the Golden finger variation; Shvetzov as a teacher; Franklin comments on photographs of the ballet; the circumstances of his introduction to the artist Oliver Smith; the ballets to be discussed at the next interview.
• Cassette 17, side B, 06/07/00 (ca. 38 min.). Franklin speaks about Agnes de Mille's ballet Rodeo; includes anecdotes about De Mille, rehearsals, Franklin's tap dancing, and the first dress rehearsal; De Mille as a person and an artist; Marc Platt's career; productions of Rodeo by American Ballet Theatre and the Dance Theatre of Harlem; Franklin comments on photographs of the ballet; Franklin's contractual obligations preventing his appearing in Broadway productions; further comments on photographs of the ballet. [Ends abruptly.]
• Cassette 18, 06/07/00, side A (ca. 38 min.). Franklin continues to comment on photographs of Rodeo; Michel Fokine's ballet Schéhérazade, including the choreography; his own debut performance [in the role of the Favorite slave, with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo]; tells performance anecdotes; Danilova's objection to Tatiana Orlova's dancing in Schéhérazade; Franklin's staging of Schéhérazade and Prince Igor for Dance Theatre of Harlem; his staging of Schéhérazade in Monte Carlo with Eric Vu-an [as the Favorite slave?]; Franklin comments on drawings of the ballet Schéhérazade. [Ends abruptly.]
• Cassette 18, 06/07/00, side B (ca. 38 min.). Franklin comments on photographs of the ballet Schéhérazade; speaks about dancing with Josephine Baker at the Casino [de Paris]; Baker as a person and as a performer; more on dancing at the Casino; speaks about Balanchine's ballet Serenade [as revised and restaged by Balanchine for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1940]; the cast, including Marie-Jeanne [Pelus]; the substantial differences between this production and the version currently performed, especially with respect to the choreography; relates an anecdote about Mia [Slavenska] and her costume; the reasons he has never staged Serenade; comments on photographs of the ballet. [Ends abruptly.]

Series Statement

Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Alternative Title

Dance Oral History Project.

Subjects

• Prima ballerina (Choreographic work : Chamié)
• Schéhérazade (Choreographic work : Fokin)
• Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013
• Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
• Chamié, Tatiana
• Audiotapes > Franklin, F
• Quelques fleurs (Choreographic work : Boris)
• Rodeo (Choreographic work : De Mille)
• Baker, Josephine, 1906-1975
• Serenade (Choreographic work : Balanchine)
• Raymonda (Choreographic work : Balanchine and Danilova, A after Petipa, M)
• Red poppy (Choreographic work : Shvetzov)
• Platt, Marc, 1913-2014
• Danilova, Alexandra, 1907-1997
• Prince Igor (Choreographic work : after Fokin)
• De Mille, Agnes

Note

• Interview with Frederic Franklin conducted by Monica Moseley, Mindy Aloff, and Nancy Reynolds, at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on June 6 and 7, 2000. These interviews were recorded for the Frederic Franklin Oral History Project; the Project is a collaboration between the George Balanchine Foundation and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
• For transcript see: *MGZMT 3-2253 no. 16-18.
• The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise.
• The transcripts were prepared by the George Balanchine Foundation. The transcripts are edited versions of the recordings and may include material such as follow-up interviews, in person and by telephone, and explanatory notes, which are not included in the recording.

Access (note)

• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 16-18

OCLC

NYPY04-R75

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. June 6 and 7, 2000 [sound recording].

Imprint

2000.

Series

Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Local Note

Archive original: *MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 16-18

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-2253 nos. 16-18

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2253 no. 16-18

Restricted Access

Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Franklin, F.

Added Author

Moseley, Monica. Interviewer

Aloff, Mindy, 1947- Interviewer

Reynolds, Nancy, 1938- Interviewer

George Balanchine Foundation.

Research Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 16-18 sound cassettes

*MGZMT 3-2253 no. 16-18 transcript

*MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 16-18