Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. Jan. 22, 2001 [sound recording].

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013.

Publication

2001.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

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

Description

2 sound cassettes (ca. 114 min.) +

Summary

• Cassette 39, side A (ca. 46 min.). The recording includes Frederic Franklin's comments made in reference to selections from the correspondence files of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Franklin speaks about the dancer Nina Novak, focusing on Sergei Denham's relationship with her, and the problems this caused in the company; Novak's strengths and weaknesses as a dancer; Novak's brother Edmund; the régisseur Mischa [Michel Katcharoff] and his relationship with Nina and Edmund Novak; the wardrobe mistress Sophie Pourmel; describes various elements of the dancers' costumes at that time, including the wool tights, the shoes, and the tutus; Pourmel and the union [American Guild of Musical Artists]; an anecdote about meeting Mr. Capezio; the company's experiencing a train wreck on tour in the U.S.; more on Pourmel.
• Cassette 39, side B (ca. 50 min.). Franklin speaks about Ruth Page; Page's and Bentley Stone's ballet Frankie and Johnny; the ballet's cast, set, score, and choreography; Page's ballet Bells, including Isamu Noguchi's set; Page's personal background; her husband, Tom [Thomas Hart] Fisher; Page's ballet Billy Sunday, including her coaching of Franklin and Alexandra Danilova in their roles [Franklin reads a letter from Page to Danilova critiquing Danilova's performance as Potiphar's wife in Billy Sunday]; problems with the score; Franklin's revival of Billy Sunday with a new score and new finale; his and Page's revival of Frankie and Johnny; Page's friendship with the writer Louis Bromfield; Page's ballet The merry widow; the founding of the Chicago Ballet; Page's and Stone's opening night performance of Frankie and Johnny; speaks briefly about Page's ballet Love song and other subsequent ballets and ideas for ballets.
• Cassette 40, side A (18 min.). Frederic Franklin continues to speak about Ruth Page, including her personality; her long-running production of The nutcracker in Chicago [short gap]; Danilova's difficulties with her role in Billy Sunday.

Alternative Title

Dance Oral History Project.

Subjects

• Denham, Sergei, 1896-1970
• Novak, Nina
• Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013
• Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
• Frankie and Johnny (Choreographic work : Page and Stone)
• Pourmel, Sophie
• Danilova, Alexandra, 1907-1997
• Page, Ruth, 1899-1991
• Audiotapes > Franklin, F
• Billy Sunday (Choreographic work : Page)
• Bells (Choreographic work : Page)

Note

• Interview with Frederic Franklin conducted by Mindy Aloff, Monica Moseley, and Nancy Reynolds, at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on Jan. 22, 2001. The interview was 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.
• 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.
• For transcript see: *MGZMT 3-2253 no. 39-40.
• The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise.

Access (note)

• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 39-40

OCLC

NYPY05-R10005

Author

Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Frederic Franklin. Jan. 22, 2001 [sound recording].

Imprint

2001.

Local Note

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-2253 nos. 39-40

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-2253 nos. 39-40

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2253 no. 39-40

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, 1947- Interviewer

Moseley, Monica. Interviewer

Reynolds, Nancy, 1938- Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 39-40 sound cassettes

*MGZMT 3-2253 no. 39-40 transcript