TitleInterview with Frederic Franklin, 1977
NamesFranklin, Frederic, 1914-2013 (Interviewee)Anderson, Jack, 1935- (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Audio Archive
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1977-07-29
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTO 7-8
TopicsFranklin, Frederic, 1914-2013 -- InterviewsDanilova, Alexandra, 1907-1997Balanchine, GeorgeMassine, Leonide, 1896-1979Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986Ballet Russe de Monte CarloNight shadow (Choreographic work : Balanchine)Vienna waltzes (Choreographic work : Balanchine)Spectre de la rose (Choreographic work : Fokine)
GenresInterviews
NotesContent: Interview with Frederic Franklin conducted by Jack Anderson on July 29, in 1977, probably in New York City. Another person is present who occasionally participates in the conversation.Venue: Recorded by Jack Anderson July 29, 1977 New York (N.Y.)
Physical DescriptionAudiotape reelExtent: 1 audiotape reel (approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes) : analog, 3.75 ips, polyester, half-track, 7 in.Sound quality is very good except for occasional extraneous noise.
DescriptionStreaming audio file 1 (approximately 52 minutes). [Begins abruptly.] Frederic Franklin speaks with Jack Anderson about the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo including his joining the company in 1937 at the invitation of Leonide Massine; his camaraderie with the Russian dancers; his being cast in some of George Zoritch's roles; working with Leonide Massine; Alexandra Danilova; his relationship with Massine including Franklin's admiration and respect for him; the 1939 tour; his favorite Massine ballets including St. Francis [Nobilissima visione]; Massine's place in ballet history including possible reasons for his works' later loss of popularity; some of Massine's less successful ballets including Saratoga; Eugenia Delarova's positive artistic influence on Massine; Massine's departure from the company; the mutual enmities among Bronislava Nijinska, Massine, and George Balanchine; having to learn a new style in order to dance Agnes de Mille's Rodeo; Franklin's becoming accustomed to Americana ballets, from Rodeo to [Valerie Bettis'] Streetcar named Desire; the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's contribution to the popularity of ballet in the United States; the success of their tours; Nina Novak [ends abruptly but continues directly on streaming audio file 2] . Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 46 minutes). Frederic Franklin speaks about the closing of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and his subsequent reviving of 18 ballets for Sergei Denham; his partnership with Alexandra Danilova including her theatricality; George Balanchine's role in making Franklin a maitre de ballet with the company; Balanchine's revitalizing of the company with his ballets; the hiring of Leonide Massine for a position that apparently had been promised to Balanchine; Serge Lifar including an anecdote about performing with him in Giselle and the aftermath; rivalries in the company including an incident concerning Alicia Markova's tutu [short gap at approximately 32 minutes]; Balanchine's casting of American dancers at the company in his ballets; his ballet Mozartizana; other ballets by Balanchine in which Franklin danced while in the company including Grand adagio (a pas de deux set to music now used in The nutcracker); La sonnambula [NIghtshadow], including Alexandra Danilova's reluctance to dance the role of the sleepwalker; Franklin's later staging of Balanchine's ballets, in a more dramatic style; the original version of Serenade, Balanchine's Baiser de la fée [ends abruptly]; Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 52 minutes). [Begins abruptly.] Frederic Franklin speaks to Jack Anderson about rehearsing a ballet [not identified] by George Balanchine with Alexandra Danilova; his good relations with the Russian company members; touring; anecdotes about Hollywood personalties including Ginger [Rogers]; the vast improvement in working conditions for ballet dancers since his touring days; the difficulty in determining the ideal frequency of performances; dancers' injuries; rooming with Balanchine during World War II; more on touring, in particular on maintaining an elegant appearance off stage; various dancers in the company with limited potential; his belief that the audience deserves to be entertained; Nina Novak including an anecdote about her brother [ends abruptly but continues directly on streaming audio file 4]. Streaming audio file 4 (approximately 14 minutes). Frederic Franklin speaks to Jack Anderson about [Michel] Fokine's Spectre de la rose including his dislike of this ballet; the ballet Les elves; his impressions of Fokine; his impressions of Antonia Cobas; discussion of George Balanchine's Vienna waltzes.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 1091193948NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12118681Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): e55400a0-5313-0137-feab-0554d2be5ca3
Rights StatementThe copyright and related rights status of this item has been reviewed by The New York Public Library, but we were unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the item. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.
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