Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. Apr. 19, 2000 [sound recording].

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013.

Publication

2000.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Aloff, Mindy, 1957-
• Moseley, Monica.
• George Balanchine Foundation.

Description

1 sound cassette (ca. 74 min.) +

Summary

• Cassette 1, side A (ca. 38 min.). [Transcript includes Frederic Franklin's interpretation of the role of Madge in August Bournonville's work La sylphide. The recording includes Franklin's comments on photographs of the ballet shown to him at the interview.] Franklin speaks about Bronislava Nijinska's 1943 work Ancient Russia created for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; tells an anecdote about the rehearsal pianist Rachel Chapman and Nijinkska; speaks about Leonide Massine's 1939 work Bacchanale created for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; the costumes and the set designed by Salvador Dali; tells an anecdote about the Chicago performance of the ballet; speaks about its reception by the audience and press in New York City; comments on photographs of the ballet; speaks about George Balanchine's 1940 work Le baiser de la fée: its production history, its premiere in New York City and its revival in 1946 by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo with a revised ending; tells an anecdote about Igor Stravinsky [ends abruptly].
• Cassette 1, side B (ca. 38 min.). Franklin continues speaking about Le baiser de la fée, in particular, Balanchine's staging of the first scene, and the set; more on the revision of the original ending [break in interview]; comments on photographs of the production, including a photograph of himself and Maria Tallchief; speaks about reasons it did not survive in the repertory; Massine's work Le beau Danube: the production he first saw, by the Ballets Russes du Col. de Basil, in 1933 in London, with Alexandra Danilova as the Street dancer and Massine as the Hussar; his first time dancing in the ballet, in 1938; tells an anecdote about dancing the ballet with Danilova; productions of it he has staged, including in 1972 for the Joffrey Ballet; changing the title to Á la Beau Danube for copyright reasons; the set and costumes, and copyright problems with using the original designs; difficulty of the role of the Hussar; his wish that the ballet would be performed more frequently [end of transcript]; discussion of an earlier version with two acts; comments on photographs of the ballet.

Series Statement

Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Alternative Title

Dance Oral History Project.

Subjects

• Balanchine, George > Baiser de la fée
• Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013
• Audiotapes > Franklin, F
• Danilova, Alexandra, 1907-1997
• Ancient Russia (Choreographic work : Nijinska)
• Bacchanale (Choreographic work : Massine)
• Beau Danube (Choreographic work : Massine)
• Ballets Russes du Col. W. de Basil
• Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

Note

• Interview with Frederic Franklin conducted by Monica Moseley and Mindy Aloff at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City, primarily on Apr. 19, 2000. This interview was recorded as part of 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. 1
• 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 no. 1

OCLC

NYPY04-R61

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. Apr. 19, 2000 [sound recording].

Imprint

2000.

Series

Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Local Note

Archive orig.: *MGZTCO 3-2253 no. 1

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-2253 no. 1

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

Aloff, Mindy, 1957- Interviewer

Moseley, Monica. Interviewer

George Balanchine Foundation.

Research Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2253 no. 1 sound cassette

*MGZMT 3-2253 no. 1 transcript

*MGZTC 3-2253 no. 1