The Bird of fire

the Bird of fire ( Gravel bank-ptitsa ; in) is a Ballet in two tables whose music was composed by Igor Stravinski in 1909 on the order of Serge de Diaghilev. It was created with the Opéra of Paris the June 25th 1910 by the Russian Ballets on a choreography of Michel Fokine and under the direction of Gabriel Pierné. Liadov was to write the partition initially but desisted, leaving the place to Stravinski. He was written initially for Piano with Saint-Pétersbourg, he was secondarily orchestrated by the type-setter in April 1910. Work was dedicated to Nikolaï Rimski-Korsakov.

It is about the first great ballet of the musician, follow-up shortly after by Petrouchka in 1911 and the Rite of Spring in 1913, always on orders of Diaghilev.

The ballet was originally composed of nineteen numbers from which Stravinski drew a continuation in five movements in 1911, then in ten movements in 1945. The argument is drawn from Conte S Russian.

Orchestration

Orchestral manpower (version of the ballet): 2 piccolo S, 3 Flute S (3rd Flute /piccolo), 3 Oboe, 1 Cor anglais, 3 Clarinet S, 1 low Clarinet, 3 Bassoon S (3rd Bassoon/Double bassoon), 1 Double bassoon; 4 horn S, 3 Trumpet S, 3 Trombone S, 1 tuba; drinking cups, percussions (Triangle, Cymbals, Large case, Tom-tom, Glockenspiel, Xylophone) (4 executants); 3 Toothing-stone S, 1 Piano, 1 Celesta; the cords (16 first Violin S, 16 seconds Violin S, 14 viola S, 8 Violoncelle S and 6 Contrebasse S)

Execution time of the integral ballet: approximately 40 minutes

Argument

A prince continues the Bird of fire which gives to him against its grace a magic feather. With the latter, he manages to release from the princesses of the influence of Kartcheï while making dance this last until exhaustion.

Unfolding

Introduction
Table 1

the magic garden of Kartcheï

Appearance of the bird of fire continued by Ivan Tsarevitch
Dance of the bird of fire

Capture of the Bird of fire by Ivan Tsarevitch
Supplications of the Bird of fire - appearance of the thirteen magic princesses

Play of the princesses with gold apples
Abrupt appearance of Ivan Tsarevitch

Khorovod (round) of the princesses
To raise day - Ivan Tsarevitch penetrates in the palate of fairy-like Kartcheï

Carillon - appearance of the monster-guards of Kartcheï - captures of Ivan Tsarevitch - intercession of the princesses
Dance of the continuation of Kartcheï enchanted by the Bird of fire

infernal Dance of all the subjects of Kartcheï
Lullaby (the Bird of fire) - alarm clock of Kartcheï - died of Kartcheï - Deep darkness

Table 2

Disappearance of the palate and the magic spells of Kartcheï - animation of the prétrifiés knights - general joy

See too

Bird of fire the legendary creature.
the music was included in the film Fantasia 2000 .

Random links: