The Firebird

Stravinsky was one of the geniuses of the 20th century, and one might find it interesting, that his biggest works were written as ballets. There was no other composer who wrote so much ballet music, and yet his music stands on its own, and sounds excellent even without the dancers. The story originates in an ancient Russian tale about the great wizard Kashchei, who imprisoned thirteen princesses, holding them in his magic garden. Prince Ivan, son of the Russian Tsar, tries to free the beautiful princess with whom he had fallen in love, liberate her sisters, too, and fight the magician. On his way, he hunts the firebird but immediately lets her free. The grateful bird gives him a magic feather. Ivan succeeds on entering the bewitched garden and overcoming the guards and charmed knights who attack him, transforming them into horrifying monsters. Thanks to the firebird's magic feather, the hero overpowers everybody, and defeats the wizard. The beautiful princess marries him and they live happily ever after.

After the rather gloomy opening, comes the dance of the bird, followed by a variation. The magical dance of the princesses is next, after which the dance of the evil sorcerer - a demonic dance in a fast, captivating rhythm. Now comes a lullaby to the princesses falling asleep, and at the end - the scene of victory over the wizard and the release of the princesses with happy, exciting music.

Stravinsky is revealed, in this piece, as an artist of numerous musical styles and colors, and breaks ground for his next achievement, to come two years later - the ballet music of "The Rite of Spring".