Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Aloff, Mindy, 1947-
2. Reynolds, Nancy, 1938-
3. Karg, Phillip.
4. George Balanchine Foundation.

Description

1. 2 sound cassettes (ca. 117 min.) +

Summary

1. Cassette 31, side A (ca. 38 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 describes the correspondence with George Balanchine as mainly concerning financial matters; the circumstances of Balanchine's staging Serenade for the company; the role of Leonide Massine in engaging Balanchine; discussion of the fees paid to Balanchine, Igor Stravinsky, Barbara Karinska, and Franklin; Sergei Denham's skill in negotiating fees; rehearsing ballets in the presence of the scores' composers; Emmanuel Balaban, Efrem Kurtz, and other conductors engaged by the company; Anton Dolin's choreographing of the ballet Scènes de ballet to Stravinsky's score, including the ballet's relation to the musical comedy, Seven lively arts; possible reasons Balanchine did not choreograph a ballet using this score. [Ends abruptly.]
2. Cassette 31, side B (ca. 38 min.). Discussion continues regarding Balanchine's reasons for not choreographing Scènes de ballet; Franklin's dancing for Ballet Theatre [later, American Ballet Theatre] in the season before it closed; the use of ground cloths; Balanchine's approach to narrative ballets; rehearsing his ballet Night shadow; other narrative ballets by Balanchine, including Baiser de la fée, Jeu de cartes, and Don Quixote; Massine's care not to change the choreography of others' works; Massine's difficulties with Mikhail Fokine's Prince Igor. [Ends abruptly.]
3. Cassette 32 side A (ca. 41 min.). Franklin and the interviewers discuss whether Balanchine was in fact, the author of certain letters in the correspondence files; Franklin speaks about Baiser de la fée; Fokine's ballet Lieutenant Kizhe [Russian soldier]; works Franklin saw at Ballet Theatre, including Balanchine's Theme and variations and Balustrade; Alice Nikitina and her role in Balanchine's ballet La chatte; Massine's ballet Jeux d'enfants [short gap; begins again abruptly]; comments briefly on a list of choreographers, dancers, and other artists shown to him at the interview [short gap; begins again abruptly]; Franklin relates an anecdote about himself and Dolores del Rio. [Ends abruptly.]

Series statement

1. Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Alternative title

1. Dance Oral History Project.

Subject

1. Massine, Leonide, 1896-1979
2. Massine, Leonide, 1896-1979 > Jeux d'enfants
3. Ballet Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
4. Jeux d'enfants (Choreographic work : Massine)
5. American Ballet Theatre
6. Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013
7. Balanchine, George
8. Audiotapes > Franklin, F
9. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
10. Ballet > Economic aspects

Call number

1. *MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 31-32

Note

1. Interview with Frederic Franklin conducted by Mindy Aloff, Phillip Karg, and Nancy Reynolds at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on July 19, 2000. 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.
2. For transcript see: *MGZMT 3-2253 no. 31-32.
3. The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise.
4. Side B of cassette 32 is blank.
5. 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)

1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Author

1. Franklin, Frederic, 1914-2013. Interviewee

Title

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

Imprint

1. 2000.

Series

1. Frederic Franklin Oral History Project

Local note

1. Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-2253 nos. 31-32
2. Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-2253 nos. 31-32
3. Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2253 no. 31-32

Restricted access

1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local subject

1. Audiotapes -- Franklin, F.

Added author

1. Aloff, Mindy, 1947- Interviewer
2. Reynolds, Nancy, 1938- Interviewer
3. Karg, Phillip. Interviewer
4. George Balanchine Foundation.

Research call number

1. *MGZTC 3-2253 nos. 31-32 sound cassettes
2. *MGZMT 3-2253 no. 31-32 transcript