FPF Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 The New York Times is reporting that Robert Gottlieb died today. Although best known as a former editor of the New Yorker and at various publishers, he was also the dance critic for the NY Observer and wrote a short biography of George Balanchine published in 2004, George Balanchine: The Ballet Maker. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/books/robert-gottlieb-dead.html Link to comment
California Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) Gottlieb was one of my favorite dance writers. He will be missed! I remember reading that in the 50s he actually did programming for NYCB! They could use him now. Edited June 14, 2023 by California Link to comment
Barbara Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 One of a kind, that’s for sure. Condolences to his friends and family. Link to comment
Helene Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 I will miss his writing. I loved his memoir, Avid Reader, for it's energy. The last time I saw him was in a delightful presentation, I believe from the 92 Y, in which he, Robert Caro, and his daughter, Lizzie Gottlieb discussed her documentary, "Turn Every Page," about their 50-year relationship as editor and author. Back in January Gottlieb was still waiting to edit Caro's fifth and final volume on Lyndon Johnson. In the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/books/robert-gottlieb-dead.html In the Washington Post, with a Toni Morrison quote and a wonderful photo of the young Caro and Gottlieb: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/06/14/robert-gottlieb-editor-of-robert-caro-and-other-literary-greats-dies/ In The New Yorker, from David Remnick: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/06/26/remembering-robert-gottlieb-editor-extraordinaire More: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/robert-gottlieb-celebrated-literary-editor-toni-morrison-robert-100085104 A Fresh Air interview from January 2023: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/03/1146644054/acclaimed-book-editor-robert-gottlieb May his memory be a blessing. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 What a remarkable life. May he rest in peace. Link to comment
FPF Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 26 minutes ago, California said: I remember reading that in the 50s he actually did programming for NYCB! They could use him now. "Mr. Lavery's draft then goes to Mr. Martins and Richard Tanner, an assistant ballet master who gradually took over programming duties from Ms. Cage. For a time he was assisted by Robert Gottlieb, who was then editor in chief at Alfred A. Knopf, a City Ballet board member and, Ms. Cage observes dryly, one of the very few people ever to find programming of interest. Changes are made, and the draft is then vetted by the other company personnel." From: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/24/arts/the-intricate-ballet-of-plotting-a-season.html?searchResultPosition=1 Link to comment
Barbara Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 I watched “Turn Every Page” this evening. Very sad knowing that he’s now gone and unable to edit the final LBJ volume. My thoughts go to Robert Caro as well. Link to comment
Drew Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 I was just referring to Gottlieb in the discussion thread on New York City Ballet (the subject was programming). A compelling figure in many spheres--may he rest in peace. Link to comment
dirac Posted July 3, 2023 Share Posted July 3, 2023 A great loss, especially as it seems his mind was as sharp as ever. RIP. An appreciation by Alastair Macaulay: Quote It was Kirstein, a master-politician who had brought Balanchine to the United States in 1933, who brought Gottlieb onto the board of City Ballet. No board member ever involved himself so fully: he watched rehearsals, he steeped himself in the history and lore of the company, for years he programmed its subscription series. Balanchine approved of him, he was once told, because “Gottlieb” was the German for Mozart’s middle name, Amadeus. Link to comment
nanushka Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 I'm so disappointed that I only just learned about this sale of Gottlieb's personal library after the fact! (NYT link for non-subscribers) Link to comment
dirac Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Thank you for the link. I would have loved to have snagged something from that sale, too. Link to comment
dirac Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 A New Yorker item from a few months ago follows Gottlieb's widow and daughter as they sift through his stuff: Quote Gottlieb’s most notorious collection was his mid-century plastic handbags—hideous and stunning specimens, entirely impractical. “There’s probably a thousand,” Tucci said. “He got bored with them after a while.” He moved on to macramé owls and something called TV lights, intricate fish-shaped lamps from France meant for decorating television sets. Lizzie and Tucci were trying to find everything a suitable home. A friend suggested a handbag museum, but it was all the way in Australia. (They put more than two hundred of the handbags in the auction.) They moved to the living room. Piled-up furniture was everywhere. Lizzie performed some minor bouldering to reach a box. “Letters from camp,” she said. “He somehow got the Times delivered.” Gottlieb made one camp friend, Eddie—E. L. Doctorow, it turned out. They read together in the cabin and avoided the lake. Link to comment
Recommended Posts