The Firebird

The Firebird (French: L'Oiseau de feu; Russian: Жар-птица, zhar-ptitsa) is a 1910 ballet by Igor Stravinsky and choreographed by Michel Fokine. The ballet is based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor.

The ballet has historic significance not only as Stravinsky's 'breakthrough piece' ("Mark him well", said Diaghilev to Tamara Karsavina, who was dancing the title role: "He is a man on the eve of celebrity..."), but also as the beginning of the collaboration between Diaghilev and Stravinsky that would also produce Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Genesis and premiere

The ballet was the first of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes productions to have an all-original score composed for it. It appears it was Alexandre Benois who, as early as 1908, first suggested that Diaghilev should produce a Russian nationalist ballet,^[1] an idea all the more attractive given both the newly awakened French passion for Russian dance and also the ruinously expensive costs of staging opera. The inspiration of mixing the mythical Firebird with the unrelated Russian tale of Kaschei the deathless possibly came from a popular child's verse by Yakov Polonsky, "A Winter's Journey" (Zimniy put, 1844), which includes the lines:

'...And in my dreams I see myself on a wolf's back

Riding along a forest path

To do battle with a sorcerer-tsar [i.e. Kaschei]

In that land where a princess sits under lock and key,

Pining behind massive walls.

There gardens surround a palace all of glass;

There Firebirds sing by night

And peck at golden fruit;...'^[2]

Benois collaborated with the choreographer Michel Fokine, drawing from several books of Russian fairy tales including the collection of Alexander Afanasyev, to concoct a story involving the Firebird and the evil magician Kashchei.

Diaghilev famously approached the Russian composer Anatoly Lyadov (1855-1914) to write the music^[3] (there is evidence to suggest that Nikolai Tcherepnin had previously started composing music for the ballet - music which became The Enchanted Kingdom - but that Tcherepnin for reasons unexplained withdrew from the project);^[4] however there is no evidence, despite the much-repeated story that Lyadov was slow to start composing the work, that he ever accepted the commission.^[5] Diaghilev eventually transferred the commission to the 28-year old Stravinsky.

The ballet was premiered by the Ballets Russes in Paris on 25 June 1910 conducted by Gabriel Pierné.^[6] Even before the first performance, the company sensed a huge success in the making; and every performance of the ballet in that first production, as Karsavina recalled, met a "crescendo" of success.^[7] The critics were ecstatic, praising the ballet for what they perceived as an ideal symbiosis between decor, choreography and music: "The old-gold vermiculatino of the fantastic back-cloth seems to have been invented to a formula identical with that of the shimmering web of the orchestra" enthused Henri Ghéon in Nouvelle revue française (1910).^[8]

For Stravinsky, it was a major breakthrough both with the public and with the critics, Calvocoressi in particular hailing Stravinsky as the legitimate heir to The Mighty Handful.^[9] The Firebird's success also secured Stravinsky's position as Diaghilev's star composer, and there were immediate talks of a sequel,^[10] leading to the composition of Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Subsequent ballet performances

The ballet was revived in 1934 by Colonel Wassily de Basil's company, the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo, in a production staged in London, using the original decor and costumes from Diaghilev's company.^[11] The company subsequently performed the ballet in Australia, during the 1936-37 tour.^[12]

The ballet was staged by George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet in 1949 with Maria Tallchief as the Firebird with scenery and costumes by Marc Chagall, and was performed in repertory until 1965. The ballet was restaged by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins in 1970 for the New York City Ballet with elaborated scenery by Chagall, and with new costumes by Karinska based on Chagall's for the 1972 Stravinsky Festival that introduced Gelsey Kirkland as the Firebird.^[13]

Story

The ballet centers on the journey of its hero, Prince Ivan. Ivan enters the magical realm of Kashchei the Immortal; all of the magical objects and creatures of Kashchei are herein represented by a chromatic descending motif, usually in the strings. While wandering in the gardens, he sees and chases the Firebird. The Firebird, once caught by Ivan, begs for its life and ultimately agrees to assist Ivan in exchange for eventual freedom.

Next, Prince Ivan sees thirteen princesses, with one of whom he falls in love. The next day, Ivan chooses to confront Kashchei to ask to marry one of the princesses; the two talk and eventually begin quarreling. When Kashchei sends his magical creatures after Ivan, the Firebird, true to its pledge, intervenes, bewitching the creatures and making them dance an elaborate, energetic dance (the "Infernal Dance"). The creatures and Kashchei then fall asleep; however, Kashchei awakens and is then sent into another dance by the Firebird. While Kashchei is bewitched by the Firebird she tells Ivan the secret to Kashchei's immortality - his soul is contained inside an enormous, magical egg. Ivan destroys the egg, killing Kashchei. With Kashchei gone and his spell broken, the magical creatures and the palace all disappear. All of the "real" beings (including the princesses) awaken and, with one final fleeting appearance from the Firebird, celebrate their victory.

Léon Bakst: Firebird, Ballerina, 1910

Versions

Besides the complete 45-minute ballet score of 1909-10 (written for a very large orchestra including quadruple woodwind and three harps, as well as a piano), there are three shorter 'suites', arranged by the composer himself for concert performance. These date from 1911, 1919 and 1945. While the 1919 suite remains the most well known and often played, the 1945 version contains the most music from the original ballet score (partly motivated by the need to secure copyright in a USA that did not recognize European agreements).

There is no consensus for the precise naming of either the different versions, or of the movements, or the numbering of the movements. Different recordings tend to follow different naming conventions. While this partly might be due to the English translation from the original French names, some recordings of the orchestral suites even avoid referring to the tale by just calling the movements by their formal names, i.e., Adagio, Scherzo, Rondo and Allegro.

Many adaptations of the Firebird Suite for Concert Band, Marching Band and Drum Corps have been made throughout the years. There are also multiple versions of the choreography for The Firebird - for example, Graeme Murphy's 2009 version.

1910 Ballet Score (aka "Ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra")

(1) Introduction; 1st Tableau: (2) The Enchanted Garden of Kashchei; (3) Appearance of the Firebird, Pursued by Prince Ivan; (4) Dance Of The Firebird; (5) Capture Of The Firebird By Prince Ivan; (6) Supplication Of The Firebird; (7) Appearance Of The Thirteen Enchanted Princesses; (8) The Princesses' Game With The Golden Apples; (9) Sudden Appearance Of Prince Ivan; (10) Khorovod (Round Dance) Of The Princesses; (11) Daybreak; (12) Magic Carillon, Appearance Of Kashchei's Monster Guardians, And Capture Of Prince Ivan; (13) Arrival Of Kashchei The Immortal; (14) Dialogue Of Kashchei And Prince Ivan; (15) Intercession Of The Princesses; (16) Appearance Of The Firebird; (17) Dance Of Kashchei's Retinue, Enchanted By The Firebird; (18) Infernal Dance Of All Kashchei's Subjects; (19) Lullaby; (20) Kashchei's Awakening; (21) Kashchei's Death; (22) Profound Darkness; 2nd Tableau: (23) Disappearance Of Kashchei's Palace and Magical Creations, Return to Life of the Petrified Knights, General Rejoicing

Orchestration: 4 flutes (3rd & 4th also Piccolo); 3 oboes; cor anglais; 3 clarinets (3rd also D Clarinet); bass clarinet; 3 bassoons (2nd also 2nd contrabassoon); contrabassoon; 4 horns; 3 trumpets; 3 trombones; tuba; 3 trumpets (onstage); 4 Wagner tubas (two tenor and two bass, onstage); timpani; bass drum; cymbals; triangle; tambourine; tam tam; tubular bells; glockenspiel; xylophone; celesta; 3 harps; pianoforte; strings.

The naming convention of the movements and their numberings may be slightly different from one recording to another. E.g. the three parts of the 2nd Tableau may - amongst several others - be seen as: Part II, No. 19a, "Disappearance of the Palace and Dissolution of Kashchei's Enchantments"; No. 19b, "Captive Warriors Emerge From Spell"; No. 19c, "General Thanksgiving".

1911 Suite (aka "Concert suite for orchestra No. 1")

(1) Introduction - Kashchei's Enchanted Garden - Dance of the Firebird; (2) Supplication of the Firebird; (3) The Princesses’ Game with Apples; (4) The Princesses’ Khorovod (Rondo, round dance); (5) Infernal dance of all Kashchei's Subjects.

Orchestration: essentially as per the original ballet - the score was printed from the same plates, with only the new endings for the movements being newly engraved.

Some recordings will list movement no. 1) as three movements.

The Kalmus orchestral score for this suite is dated "1910", while Luck's Music publishes this version as "1912"

The 2005 remastered edition on Sony with conductor Pierre Boulez calls it "Ballet suite for orchestra", while in 1991 Sony called it "Suite, 1910".

1919 Suite (aka "Concert suite for orchestra No. 2")

(1) Introduction - The Firebird and its dance - The Firebird's variation; (2) The Princesses’ Khorovod (Rondo, round dance); (3) Infernal dance of King Kashchei; (4) Berceuse (Lullaby); (5) Finale.

Orchestration: 2 Flutes (2nd also Piccolo); 2 Oboes (2nd also English Horn); 2 Clarinets; 2 Bassoons; 4 Horns; 2 Trumpets; 3 Trombones; Tuba; Timpani; Bass Drum; Tambourine; Cymbals; Triangle; Xylophone; Harp; Pianoforte (also Celesta); Strings.

Some recordings will list movement no. 1) as two or three movements. It is sometimes also referred to as a "Symphonic Suite".

1945 Suite (aka "Ballet suite for orchestra")

(1) Introduction - The Firebird and its dance - The Firebird's variation; (2) Pantomime I; (3) Pas de deux: Firebird and Ivan Tsarevich; (4) Pantomime II; (5) Scherzo: Dance of the Princesses; (6) Pantomime III; (7) The Princesses' Khorovod (Rondo, round dance); (8) Infernal dance of King Kashchei; (9) Berceuse (Lullaby); (10) Finale.

Orchestration: 2 Flutes (2nd also Piccolo); 2 Oboes; 2 Clarinets; 2 Bassoons; 4 Horns; 2 Trumpets; 3 Trombones; Tuba; Timpani; Bass Drum; Snare Drum; Tambourine; Cymbals; Triangle; Xylophone; Harp; Pianoforte; Strings.

Once again, some recordings will list movement no. 1) as three movements or may refer to this as a "Symphonic Suite".

Popular Influence

The chapter in the animated film Fantasia 2000 based on Stravinsky's piece uses an abridged version of the 1919 suite to tell the story of a spring sprite and her companion elk. After a long winter the sprite attempts to restore life to a forest but accidentally wakes the "Firebird" spirit of a nearby volcano. Angered, the Firebird proceeds to destroy the forest and seemingly the sprite. She is restored to life after the destruction and the forest life is reborn with her. The Fantasia 2000 Firebird chapter is considered an exercise in the theme of life-death-rebirth deities; the depiction of the Firebird in it as a violent, flaming volcanic spirit is not related to Stravinsky's original theme. Arguably, this depiction acts as a literal The Rite of Spring, another Stravinsky ballet used by Disney in the previous Fantasia film.

The chapter "The Princesses' Khorovod and The Infernal Dance of King Katscheï" in the animated film Allegro non troppo uses excerpts from Stravinsky's music, and tells a variant of the Adam and Eve story.

Stravinsky's work has also had a great deal of influence in musical genres outside of classical. Throughout its career, the progressive rock group Yes has opened its live concerts with an excerpt from The Firebird, and their 1974 song "The Gates of Delirium" is heavily influenced by musical ideas pioneered by Stravinsky. Another progressive rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band used thematic material from The Firebird as the basis for the track Starbird on their album The Roaring Silence.

The experimental electronic band, White Noise in their 1969 album, An Electric Storm, included a song 'Firebird', written by band members Delia Derbyshire and David Vorhaus, based on Stravinsky's piece.

Electronic musician Isao Tomita arranged a synthesized version of the short 1919 Firebird suite for his 1975 album of the same name.

Cliff Eidelman's score for the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country borrows thematic elements from the Firebird.

The ballet was also the inspiration for Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix series.

Hip-Hop band The Beastie Boys Sampled firebird in the song Electrify on the album Hello Nasty.

Noise rock trio Blind Idiot God reinterpretated some themes from the introduction in their song Stravinsky - Blasting Off.

Graeme Murphy and The Australian Ballet colloborated in 2009 on a new Firebird with set and costume designs by the young designer Leon Krasenstein.^[14]

Swedish band Freak Kitchen parodies Firebird in their song called "Mr. Kaschei and the 13 Prostitutes", from their self-titled album.

Olympic figure skating champion Evan Lysacek used music from Firebird during his short program performance during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Selected recorded versions

Complete Ballet

• Igor Stravinsky conducting the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, recorded in 1961 for Columbia Masterworks, and released on CD by Sony Masterworks. This recording has been released many times on LP and CD. This is considered the authoritative version because the composer conducts his own work.

• Seiji Ozawa conducting the Orchestre de Paris (released in 1973 on EMI as S-36910)

• Paul Jorgensen conducting the Royal Danish Orchestra, with the Royal Danish Ballet choreographed by Glen Tetley (1982 video; reissued on DVD by Kultur in 2002). Many have criticized this release for poor sound quality, and for changing the original story.

• Pierre Boulez conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Released in 1993, it is a studio recording^[15] released on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

• Antal Doráti conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in 1959 and released on the Mercury Records label. It was re-released on CD in 1991.

• Dorati re-recorded the work with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1982 on the Decca label. It was re-released in 1992 along with Apollon musagète.

• Charles Dutoit conducting the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, recorded in 1984 and released in 1986 on the Decca label.

• Sir Colin Davis conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra, recorded on Philips Classics Records.

• Robert Craft conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded in 1996 on the now defunct Koch Records. It was re-released by Naxos Records in 2005, coupled with Petrushka (1947 version).

• Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in a 3-CD recording that also includes The Rite of Spring and Perséphone. This set won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance and the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Classical Album.

• Simon Rattle conducting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in a multiple-CD recording that also includes Petrushka, Apollo, and The Rite of Spring, recorded on EMI Records Released 2008.

• Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008, live in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Firebird Suite

• George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra (released on Epic Records as LC 3812 and BC 1149; the disc also includes William Walton's Symphony No. 2)

• Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (released on Telarc as CD-80039); the disc also includes [some of the] Music from Prince Igor, by Alexander Borodin

• Pierre Monteux conducting the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra (released on Decca Records in 1972 as STS 15197; the disc also includes the complete Petrushka ballet)

• Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra (broadcast by the Radio Nederland Transcription Service on the Dutch Concert Rostrum, Program 8319; not commercially released; the program also includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Overture to The Marriage of Figaro (Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra/Jean Fournet) and Johannes Brahms's Variations on the Chorale St. Anthony, op. 56a (Concertgebouw Orchestra/Erich Leinsdorf))

• Kazuhito Yamashita - arrangement for classical guitar (released on RCA Records in 1989; the disc also includes a classical guitar arrangement of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9)

• Ivan Fischer conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra, 1919 version (released on Hungaroton in 1990 as HCD 31095, recorded in 1988; the disc also includes the complete Petrushka ballet, 1946-47 version)

• Neeme Järvi conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, 1945 version recorded in 1988 and released on Chandos Records in 1989; also includes Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Dubinushka, Op. 62 and Lyadov's Baba-Yaga op. 56, The Enchanted Lake Op. 62 and Kilimora Op. 63

• Jahni Mardjani conducting the Georgian Festival Orchestra. This disc also has a version of Claude Debussy's Nocturnes

• Myung-whun Chung conducting the Orchestra of the Bastille Opera, coupled to Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Recorded in 1992 and released in 1993 on Deutsche Grammophon.

• Leonard Bernstein has recorded it several times with various orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Each of these has been released on CD multiple times.

• Leopold Stokowski recorded The Firebird Suite eight times, more than any other conductor ... with the Philadelphia Orchestra (acoustically) in 1924, and again (electrically) in 1927 and 1935; with the All-American Youth Orchestra in 1941 and the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1942; with his own Symphony Orchestra in 1950; and in two stereo recordings, with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1957, and finally, at the age of 85, with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1967.

• Isao Tomita recorded an electronic arrangement of "The Firebird" Suite in 1975 using a Moog III synthesizer and other electronic instruments available at the time.

• Vincent Montana, Jr, recorded a disco version in 1977 with the Salsoul Orchestra calling the piece "Magic Bird of Fire" on his album Magic Journey.

• Col. John R. Bourgeois conducted the United States Marine Band in the Thomas Knox symphonic band transcription in a concert at the 1991 Texas Music Educators Association All-State Convention/Clinic. Mark Custom Recording Service TMEA91-MCD-1

• Experimental Progressive Rock band The Stick Men released a rendition of the entire suite on their 2010 album Soup using only two Chapman Sticks and a drum set.

Excerpts from the Firebird Suite

• Berceuse: Lori Singer, solo cello performance (included on the Short Cuts soundtrack)

• Danse Infernal: Igor Stravinsky conducting the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (released on Columbia Records as MS 7094; disc includes five other Stravinsky compositions)
• The progressive rock band, Yes used an excerpt from Firebird Suite to open concerts, and also appears as the first track on many live CDs and DVDs.

Notes

References

• Sorley Walker, Kathrine. 1982. De Basil's Ballets Russes. London: Hutchinson. ISBN 0-09-147510-4; New York: Atheneum. ISBN 068911365X.
• Taruskin, Richard. 1996. Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-816250-2
• http://www.nla.gov.au/balletsrusses/whatson.html

External links

• National Library of Australia Ballets Russes website

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