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Witness History

The Rudolf Nureyev Phenomenon

Witness History

BBC

History, Society & Culture, Personal Journals

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 12 July 2017

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1961, one of the world's best ballet dancers, Rudolf Nureyev, defected from the USSR to the West, causing a worldwide sensation. Dina Newman spoke to Victor Hochhauser, the international impresario who organised that historic tour.

Photo: Rudolf Nureyev receives flowers after his performance of 'Swan Lake' in Paris in 1963. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Transcript

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0:00.0

Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.

0:04.7

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0:08.5

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1:03.4

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1:05.4

Hello, you're listening to the Witness Podcast,

1:08.0

history as told by the people who were there,

1:10.2

with me, Dina Newman.

1:11.6

Today we go back to June 1961 when one of the world's most talented

1:17.7

ballet dances, Rudolph Nurev, defected to the west from the USSR. I have been speaking to the international impresario

1:27.5

who organized that historic tour. I'm I remember as a great dancer as a great personality in many ways.

...

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