Additional Physical Form: For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-428.
Bibliographic History: Title supplied by cataloger.
Source Characteristics: Sound quality is fair to poor. Oleg Tupine's voice is often soft and, at times, difficult to understand. There are also occasional short gaps.
Venue: Recorded by Katy Matheson 1978, December 26 and 27 Springfield (Va.)
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.

Physical Description

Extent: 3 audio cassettes (approximately 4 hr., 19 min.); quarter track; 1.875 ips

Abstract

Streaming audio file 1 (approximately 47 minutes). December 26, 1978. Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about his childhood; his teacher Lubov [Nikolaevna] Egorova and her studio; (briefly) the Ballet de la Jeunesse; the Original Ballet Russe [Ballets russes du Col. W. de Basil] including anecdotes about his experiences in the corps de ballet; his audition for the company; reminiscences of Bronislava Nijinska, as a teacher [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2]. Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 47 minutes). Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about Bronislava Nijinska and her classes; his preference for personality over technique in a dancer; Nijinska's devotion to her brother [Vaslaw Nijinsky]; Michel Fokine's ballet Spectre de la rose including changes Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov made when performing in it; the inherent advantage in dancing a role created for one [David] Lichine as a choreographer including his Prodigal son; more on his time in the Ballets russes du Col. W. de Basil including the tours; the low compensation of the dancers and the strike in Cuba; leaving the company and joining [Sergei] Denham's company [Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo]; his final performances, with Maria Tallchief [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 3]. Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 48 minutes ). Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about Alexandra Danilova; Alicia Markova including her Giselle and her relationship with Anton Dolin; the current trend toward ballet companies hiring dancers of uniform body type; Leonide Massine; his daily schedule when on tour; taking class with Pierre Vladimiroff and with Anatole Oboukhoff [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 4]. Streaming audio file 4 (approximately 48 minutes ). December 26 and 27, 1978. Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about the difficulty of determining whether a child has the potential to succeed as a ballet dancer; toe shoes; his first impressions of the United States, in particular the food [December 26 session ends at approximately 23:00; December 27 session commences]; Tupine's decision to retire from dancing; Serge Griogoriev; touring including the slower pace of travel before World War II; Col. W. de Basil; more on the company strike in Cuba [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 5]. Streaming audio file 5 (approximately 48 minutes ).December 27, 1978. Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about touring including the repertory and performing conditions; the greater opportunities for ballet dancers in Europe [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 6]. Streaming audio file 6 (approximately 21 minutes ). Oleg Tupine speaks with Katy Matheson about his work in film and television; [Michel] Fokine's ballet Paganini; the rapid development of ballet in the United States; the conditions under which art flourishes.

Languages

English

Identifiers

RLIN/OCLC: 80645683
NYPL Catalog ID (bnumber): b12118187
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 190bafb0-c278-0135-d1b8-0e76621764e5

Rights

The New York Public Library holds or manages the copyright(s) in this item. If you need information about reusing this item, please go to: http://nypl.org/permissions

Type Of Resource

Sound Recording

Cite this item

MLA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Oleg Tupine, 1978" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1978. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/190bafb0-c278-0135-d1b8-0e76621764e5

APA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. (1978). Interview with Oleg Tupine, 1978 Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/190bafb0-c278-0135-d1b8-0e76621764e5

Chicago/Turabian Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Oleg Tupine, 1978" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 9, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/190bafb0-c278-0135-d1b8-0e76621764e5

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/190bafb0-c278-0135-d1b8-0e76621764e5 | title= (sound recording) Interview with Oleg Tupine, 1978 (1978) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=November 9, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>