Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Sept. 4, 1984 [sound recording]

Author

Robbins, Jerome

Publication

1984.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Trustman, Deborah.

Description

2 sound discs (ca. 98 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Disc 1 (ca. 49 min.) Deborah Trustman begins by discussing the objective of her article. Robbins discusses The New York City Ballet's adjustment to the loss of George Balanchine and the difficulty of charting its future; the support given by company dancers during the transition; the various visions of the company's future production of Balanchine's ballets; the current working relationship of Robbins, co-director Peter Martins and general director Lincoln Kirstein; the climate of cooperation and non-competitiveness within the company as fostered by Balanchine; Balanchine's dedication to the art form of ballet and his support of Robbins' ballet, The guests (1949). Robbins discusses his collaboration with choreographer Twyla Tharp on Brahms/Handel (1984), including their difficulty in agreeing on the music, their collaborative process, her choreographic style and way of working, the differences in their choreography and how they built upon each other's themes to create an interconnected ballet. Robbins discusses the importance of new ballets to the company; the company's audience and critics; Martins' future role within the company; the influence of the New York City Ballet board of directors upon the company in comparison with Balanchine's previous control; Martins' response to Robbins' work with Tharp and more on the working relationship among the company's leadership.
• Disc 2 (ca. 49 min.) Robbins comments on losing his high-decibel hearing during the production of High button shoes (1947); Trustman and Robbins discuss Martins' personal limitations and struggles, his leadership of the company in comparison with Balanchine; Robbins' discusses Balanchine's philosophy and creative output; compares his working style with Balanchine's; discusses general director Lincoln Kirstein's influence on the company; Balanchine's work with composer Igor Stravinsky; the audience reaction to Robbins' Allegro for harp (1975); his creation of Goldberg variations (1971); working with Balanchine on the Stravinsky Festival and his initial resistance to Balanchine's musical assignment; the production of single-composer festivals by the company during Balanchine's lifetime and afterwards; more on Martins' attitude towards Robbins' work with Tharp and the audience reaction to their ballet; Balanchine's encouragement of Robbins' ballet, Watermill (1972); the benefits and disadvantages of working under the eye of Balanchine; Robbins' independence from Balanchine compared with Martins' relationship to Balanchine; Balanchine's influence on Robbins' ballet Dances at a gathering (1969); Robbins' creation of Antique epigraphs (1984); his desire to "fix" some parts of most of his ballets; more on working closely with Peter Martins and their goal for the dance company; Martins' and Robbins' ideas for possible ballet festivals [ends abruptly].

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Brahms/Handel (Choreographic work : Robbins and Tharp)
• Robbins, Jerome > Interviews
• Audiotapes > Robbins, J
• Balanchine, George
• New York City Ballet

Note

• Interview conducted by Deborah Trustman on Sept. 5, 1984 for her article, "After a genius: The New York City Ballet since Balanchine," New York times Sunday magazine, Sept. 5, 1984, p. 40, 42-46, 50-52, 58, 62.

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 4-3080 JRC

OCLC

NYPT03-R21

Author

Robbins, Jerome, interviewee.

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Sept. 4, 1984 [sound recording]

Imprint

1984.

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 3080 JRC. The transcript was created by WNET/13 in connection with the documentary: Jerome Robbins: Something to dance about.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-3080

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3080 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3080 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3080 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

Trustman, Deborah. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3080 JRC