Two streaming audio files (approximately one hour and seven minutes): digital
Summary
Streaming audio file 1 (approximately 47 minutes). Following John Gruen's introductory remarks, Violette Verdy speaks with Gruen about her first impressions of Erik Bruhn, in particular, his classicism; dancing with Bruhn for the first time; becoming better acquainted with Bruhn, at American Ballet Theatre; his generosity to other dancers; his perfectionism including how this has both benefited and hurt him; Bruhn in Birgit Cullberg's ballet Miss Julie; Bruhn's coaching of her in Miss Julie; some aspects of Bruhn's character; touring with American Ballet Theatre; some of her roles with the company; her current relationship with Bruhn; Bruhn as a character dancer, including the lack of appropriate material for him; her current position, director of the Paris Opéra Ballet [Opéra de Paris Ballet] including the political intrigues at the time she was appointed [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2].
Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 20 minutes). Violette Verdy continues to speak about the Paris Opéra Ballet including the difficult situation at the time she was appointed director; the on-going negotiations regarding her contract; Rolf Liebermann and the approaching end of his tenure as director of the Paris Opéra; the two candidates for his position; the young dancer Patrick Dupond.
For edited transcript of portion of interview which refers to Erik Bruhn, see: *MGZMT 3-789.
Interview with Violette Verdy conducted by John Gruen on July 12, 1977 in Paris, France as research for his book, Erik Bruhn: danseur noble (Viking Press, New York, 1979). Following the discussion of Bruhn, Gruen speaks with Verdy about her position as the director of the Paris Opéra Ballet [Opéra de Paris Ballet] as research for a possible journal article.
Sound quality is good.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Access (note)
Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Funding (note)
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.
Source (note)
John Gruen
Author
Verdy, Violette, 1933-2016, interviewee.
Title
Interview with Violette Verdy, 1977
Production
1977
Type of content
spoken word
Type of medium
audio
Type of carrier
online resource
Digital file characteristics
audio file
Restricted access
Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Event
Recorded by John Gruen 1977, July 12 Paris (France)
Funding
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
Original format: one sound cassette (approximately one hour and seven minutes); quarter-track; 1.875 ips; transferred to wav file and streaming file format in 2015: myd_mgztco3789_v01f01_sc and myd_mgztco3789_v01f02_sc.