15 replies to this topic

[linsusanr]

Hi everyone,

There is a ballet that I've been trying to find on video for ages!  It was broadcast on PBS quite a few years ago, and it featured Peter Martins in Balanchine's "Vienna Waltzes" ... It had music from Johann Strauss' "Tales from the Vienna Woods" as well as Richard Strauss' "Rosenkavalier", the latter of which was included in the more recent Balanchine Celebration.  Does anybody know if a copy of this exists anywhere?  

Thanks very much!
Susan

[Mme. Hermine]

the program included 'vienna waltzes', 'who cares' and 'mozartiana'.  it was not released on video, so you'd have to find someone who had it, i guess!

[linsusanr]

Thanks, pmeja, for your reply!  I sure hope I someday find this elusive program.  I wonder if PBS still has its hands on it somewhere ...  By the way, when did you get to see the program?  Was it on television?  

-Susan

[Alexandra]

I'm pretty sure it was in 1984.  Your local PBS station may have a copy they'd let you see.  It wouldn't hurt to ask    It's a lovely tape.

[linsusanr]

I'll try asking PBS very soon ...  Do either of you know the actual name of the program?  Thank you for your help!

-Susan

[linsusanr]

I just found the name of the program after scouring PBS' vast site: "A Lincoln Center Special" featuring NYCB from "Live from Lincoln Center" ... the date was October 10, 1983.  Now the question is whether I can access this somehow!    :rolleyes:

Ever hopeful,
Susan

[Dale]

Try a performing arts library near you or a major university library.  If you live near a top ballet school, somebody there might have a copy.

[Mme. Hermine]

here is the detailed listing from the New York Public Library:
*******
Title A New York City Ballet tribute to George Balanchine (Videotape)  
Imprint 1983.

Telecast on WNET-TV Channel 13, New York, on October 16, 1983. Producer: John Goberman for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Director: Emile Ardolino. Choreography: George Balanchine.
Performed by members of the New York City Ballet Company at the New York State Theater. Introduction and commentary by Patrick Watson.
Contents CONTENTS. - Vienna waltzes Music: Johann Strauss, Ferenc Lehár, and Richard Strauss. Scenic design: Rouben Ter-Arutunian. Costumes: Karinska. Performed by Kyra Nichols and Sean Lavery, Heather Watts and Helgi Tomasson, Elyse Borne and Bart Cook, Karin von Aroldingen and Peter Martins, Suzanne Farrell and Adam Luders, with other members of the company. - Mozartiana  Music: Tchaikovsky on Mozart themes. Costumes: Ter-Arutunian. Performed by Suzanne Farrell with Ib Andersen, Victor Castelli, 4 students from the School of American Ballet, and other members of the company. - Who Cares?  Music: George Gershwin, adapted and orchestrated by Hershey Kay. Scenic design: Jo Mielziner. Costumes: Ben Benson. Performed by Patricia McBride, Lourdes Lopez, Sean Lavery, Heather Watts, and other members of the company.

[Alexandra]

Thanks for that, pmeja!  Vienna Waltzes was my favorite Peter Martins role.

[linsusanr]

My local PBS station got back to my query about the program, and it seems that I can't get a copy from them since they don't have one!  This is what they wrote:

"Lincoln Center never sells any of their programs on tape. The shows are not produced as TV shows, but as "live coverage of a live arts event," and have broadcast rights for 1 telecast only. This is done so that each program only costs a few hundred thousand dollars to produce, rather than several hundred, and allows Lincoln Center to produce 4-5 shows a year rather than just 1. Stations immediately erase their tapes after the single broadcast. sorry for the bad news."

This is an FYI for anybody else who is interested in past Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts.  I'm so sad!    

-Susan

[lara]

I believe one can still view the tapes at the research library in New York though. This program has a call number. *MGZIC 9-611

It would be interesting to know what the parameters are for viewing materials in the research library.

[Mme. Hermine]

the only parameters set by the library are in what can be viewed, rather than who can view.  if material is marked 'closed', it cannot be seen by the public at all.  it's been given to the library for safekeeping.  if it's marked 'permission required', then whoever wants to see it has to have permission from whoever holds the rights to it (and the library can tell you that).  however that person/organization has discretion in granting permission and you might not get it.  otherwise, if it has no such markings you can look at it.  however at the moment, as the library is preparing to move back to their original premises at lincoln center and open up around october 15, many things are becoming unavailable, being packed up, etc.   i don't know about the films, but i wanted to look at a manuscript and was told that it was unavailable (this was a week ago).  so it might pay to call ahead.

[ 08-20-2001: Message edited by: pmeja ]

[Juliet]

I took a chance and went and watched this yesterday.
How beautiful.....thank you for reminding me.

[linsusanr]

Juliet, did you go to the NY library to watch it?  I see you're from Annapolis ... Being a west-coaster, I have no idea how long it takes to get from there to NYC.  Or do you by chance have a copy of it??  Thanks to lara and pmeja for the call number and library info.  I don't know how I'll get out to New York these days, but you never know!  

-Susan

[Dale]

linsusanr, as I asked before, you might find a library to view the tape near you.  I know that the Balanchine Foundation tapes were sent to several libraries around the world, not just the performance library in NY.  Or a university such as UCLA.  For example, when I was at Columbia, the library there had copies of different Dance in America and Live at Lincoln Center broadcasts that were not available at that time.  So, conceivably there might be a library near you that might have a copy of this program.  You should call around.

Just found a link for the San Francisco Performing Arts Library:
http://www.sfpalm.org/dance.html

Special Libraries Association:
http://www.sla.org/

And Dance Films Association.  They are located in New York but have festivals and viewing sites around the world:
http://www.dancefilmsassn.org/

UCLA library:
http://www.library.ucla.edu/