Philharmonia:Craft - STRAVINSKY: The Firebird / Petrushka

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)The Firebird PetrushkaThe Firebird (1910)For the first performance of Firebird, June 25th, 1910,the Ballets Russes programme of the The?�tre Nationalde l'Opera, Paris, published the following synopsis:The Firebird, one of the most popular Russianfolktales, begins when Ivan Tsarevich, thecrown prince, sees a marvellous bird of flaminggold. He pursues but fails to catch it, and onlysucceeds in snatching one of its glitteringfeathers. The chase has taken him into thedomain of Kastchei the Immortal, demi-god ofevil, who attempts to capture him and, as he hasalready done with many valiant knights andprinces, turns him to stone. Kastchei'sdaughters and thirteen princesses intercede forIvan Tsarevich and try to save him. Finally theFirebird appears, breaks Kastchei's spell, andrescues everyone. Ivan Tsarevich and theknights, delivered from their fate, seize thegolden apples from Kastchei's garden.