Igor Stravinsky was born in Lomonosov, Russia, on June 17, 1882, and died in New York on April 7, 1971. The first performance of The Firebird took place at the Paris Opéra on June 25, 1910, with Gabriel Pierné conducting. The 1919 Suite from The Firebird is scored for two flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), two oboes (2nd doubling English horn), two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, xylophone, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, harp, piano, celesta (optional), and strings. Approximate performance time is twenty-three minutes.
Stravinsky composed his ballet, The Firebird, at the invitation of Sergei Diaghilev, impresario of the Ballets Russes. Stravinsky began composition of The Firebird in November of 1909 and completed the score on May 18, 1910. The composer participated in all the rehearsals at the Paris Opéra. Tamara Karsavina, who danced the title role in the premiere of The Firebird, recalled that during one rehearsal when Stravinsky approached the orchestra pit, Diaghilev turned to her and said: “Mark him well. He is a man on the eve of celebrity.”
The fulfillment of Diaghilev’s prophecy took place on June 25, 1910, with The Firebird’s triumphant premiere. Among the appreciative audience members at the premiere was Claude Debussy, who came on stage after the performance to offer Stravinsky his compliments.
The Firebird’s brilliant synthesis of lyric and dramatic elements, couched in dazzling orchestration, captured the imagination of the Paris audiences and catapulted Stravinsky to national and international prominence. Stravinsky fashioned three orchestral Suites from The Firebird, the first (1911) employing the huge orchestral forces of the original score. In 1919, Stravinsky created another Suite for reduced orchestra. Stravinsky completed the third (and final) Suite in 1945. The 1919 Suite—the most frequently performed of the three—is featured in these concerts.
I. Introduction: The Firebird and Her Dance; Variation of the Firebird—The Suite opens with a mysterious Introduction. While wandering in the forest at night, Prince Ivan encounters a magic Firebird. The Prince is entranced by the Firebird’s beauty and captures her. However, the Prince takes pity on the Firebird and sets her free. In gratitude, the Firebird gives the Prince one of her feathers and promises to aid him in his hour of need.
II. The Princesses’ Round: Khorovode—The Prince comes to the courtyard of an enchanted castle, where he finds thirteen beautiful Princesses, captives of the evil magician Kastcheï. The Princesses warn Prince Ivan not to enter the castle, for Kastcheï has the power to turn intruders to stone. The Prince boldly ignores their warnings.
III. Infernal Dance of King Kastcheï—The Prince is suddenly confronted by Kastcheï’s horrible servants, and ultimately, the magician himself. Kastcheï tries to turn the Prince into stone, but the hero produces the Firebird’s magic feather. The Firebird appears and forces Kastcheï and his followers into a frenetic dance.
IV. Berceuse—When Kastcheï and his followers are exhausted, the Firebird lulls them to sleep.
V. Finale—Kastcheï and his retinue are destroyed. All of the prisoners are set free, including the Thirteenth Princess, whom the Prince weds.
Program notes by Ken Meltzer