Stravinsky arr. Isaac – Ballet Suite from The Firebird
Suite from the ballet The Firebird (1910) – excerpts
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) arr. Merle Isaac (1989 – 1996)
- The Infernal Dance
- Berceuse
- Finale
Stravinsky’s score for The Firebird was the first of three written for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris that revolutionised the world of ballet. It became so popular that Stravinsky was once hailed by a passer-by as “Mr. Fireberg”. To protect Crown Prince Ivan, the magic Firebird casts a spell over the evil Kashchei and his cronies. In the Infernal Dance, Kashchei and friends are compelled by the Firebird’s spell to dance to exhaustion. The Berceuse is a lullaby in which the Firebird lulls Kashchei to sleep. Ivan then destroys the egg containing Kashchei’s soul, sunlight returns and the rescued captives celebrate.
Performed: May/June 2016