Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Gruen, John

Description

1. 2 sound discs (approximately one hour and one minute): digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. Disc 1 (approximately 47 minutes). Interview with Francesca Corkle. [Begins abruptly.] John Gruen speaks with Francesca Corkle about her career at the Joffrey Ballet beginning with her personal background and early ballet training with her mother, a ballet teacher; her first meeting Robert Joffrey when she was a child; her mother as a teacher; her early performances, in Seattle, including dancing in a production of the opera Aida choreographed by Joffrey; continuing her training, at Pacific Lutheran University; dancing the title role in The firebird when she was only 12; dancing for Robert Joffrey in New York City, initially as Cupid in the opera Manon at New York City Opera; substituting for Luis Fuentes in [Gerald Arpino's work] Viva Vivaldi!; moving to New York City to dance with the Joffrey Ballet [following a short gap interview resumes]; Corkle speaks further about her childhood including dancing as an extra with the Ballet Russe [de Monte Carlo] when they performed in Seattle; becoming a member of the Joffrey Ballet; some of her roles at the company; her development as a dancer, in particular how her strong technique provided the foundation for performing in Joffrey's work Remembrances; how she prepared for the role including her study of the music [Richard Wagner's Album sonata, E flat major, for Mathilde Wesendonk]; [recording ends abruptly].
2. Disc 2 (approximately 14 minutes of interview; remaining approximately 22 minutes is blank). John Gruen and Francesca Corkle continue to speak about her career at the Joffrey Ballet beginning with Robert Joffrey, as a person and as a director and choreographer; more on her preparing for her role in Joffrey's work Remembrances and the music used in it; briefly, her partner Jonathan Watts; working with Gerald Arpino including as compared with Joffrey; her relationship with the company as a whole in terms of social interactions [recording ends abruptly at approximately 13:30; the remaining approximately 22 minutes is blank].

Donor/Sponsor

1. Gift of John Gruen, April 1974

Subject

1. Joffrey Ballet
2. Audiotapes > Corkle, F
3. Arpino, Gerald
4. Corkle, Francesca
5. Joffrey, Robert
6. Remembrances (Choreographic work : Joffrey)

Call number

1. *MGZTL 4-142

Note

1. Interview with Francesca Corkle conducted by John Gruen on January 6, 1974 in New York City. This interview was used as a basis for a chapter in John Gruen's book, The private world of ballet (New York, Viking Press).
2. For condensed and edited transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-142.
3. Sound quality is good. There is some extraneous noise and a few short gaps. The interview ends abruptly at approximately 13:30 minutes on disc 2; the remaining approximately 22 minutes is blank.

Funding (note)

1. 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.

Author

1. Corkle, Francesca, interviewee.

Title

1. Interview with Francesca Corkle. January 6, 1974, 1974.

Production

1. 1974

Type of content

1. spoken word

Type of medium

1. audio

Type of carrier

1. audio disc

Event

1. Recorded by John Gruen 1974, January 6 New York (New York)

Funding

1. 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.

Original version

1. Original format: one sound cassette (approximately one hour and 23 minutes); 1 7/8 ips. originally recorded on January 6, 1974; transferred to wav file and compact disc formats in 2013.

Local note

1. Former classmark: *MGZTC 3-142

Added author

1. Gruen, John, interviewer.
2. Gruen, John, donor

Research call number

1. *MGZTL 4-142