Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Apr. 8, 1982 [sound recording]

Author

Robbins, Jerome

Publication

1982.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Kisselgoff, Anna.

Description

1 sound disc (ca. 71 min.) : digital; 4 3/4in.

Summary

• [Contains extraneous noise; begins abruptly.] Jerome Robbins discusses his ballet Gershwin Concerto (1982), including his work with jazz music and his interest in Gershwin's music, the influence of the music on the ballet and his original idea of a role in the ballet for dancer Nora Kaye. Robbins discusses his use of jazz and blues in his choreography; rock music; the critical reaction to his ballets included in the Tchaikovsky Festival; his interest in Stravinsky's chamber works and the challenges of choreographing for a single composer in a festival; his Kennedy Center award; his involvement in revivals of his Broadway shows such as Fiddler on the roof (1964); the training of contemporary dancers; their cultural influences compared with dancers of the 1950s; dancers' use of personal stereos; his interest in doing a show documenting his career on Broadway; the use of Labanotation in the restoration of the Charleston from his show High button shoes (1947); existing documentation of his Broadway work; his idea for a retrospective show and his initial research on the project; his interest in doing future work on Broadway. Robbins comments on the traditional three-act form of ballet compared with the one-act and on his use of a narrative structure in his ballets [break in tape at 51 min.]; Robbins discusses the reviews of Gershwin concerto; more on his work with Gershwin's music; Kisselgoff and Robbins discuss dancer Mel Tomlinson.
• Robbins' discusses his objectives as a choreographer and more on the use of narrative in ballet; Kisselgoff and Robbins discuss dance journalism; Robbins briefly discusses his beginning work on the Stravinsky Festival; his ballet The four seasons (1979), including his response to Verdi's music and the costumes and scenery; ballet in rehearsal compared with ballet in performance [break]; more on his feelings about Verdi's music; [ends abruptly].

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Robbins, Jerome > Interviews
• Ballet > Production and direction
• Gershwin concerto (Choreographic work : Robbins)
• Audiotapes > Robbins, J

Note

• Interview conducted by dance critic Anna Kisselgoff on Apr. 8, 1982 in New York, N.Y.

Access (note)

• Permission required.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Source (note)

• WNET/13

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3086 JRC

OCLC

NYPT03-R15

Author

Robbins, Jerome, interviewee.

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Apr. 8, 1982 [sound recording]

Imprint

1982.

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Access

Permission required.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Local Note

For transcript of brief excerpts see *MGZMT 3-3086 JRC. The transcript was created by WNET/13 in connection with the documentary: Jerome Robbins: Something to dance about.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-3086 JRC

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3086 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3086 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3086 JRC

Source

Transcript Gift; WNET/13, 2008. NN-PD

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Robbins, J.

Added Author

Kisselgoff, Anna. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3086 JRC