Origins and History
In 1909, Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes, conceived the idea of creating a ballet based on Russian folk tales, particularly those featuring the magical Firebird. He initially approached Anatoly Lyadov to compose the score but, faced with delays, turned to the young Igor Stravinsky. This commission proved transformative for both Stravinsky and ballet history. The ballet premiered on June 25, 1910, at the Paris Opéra with choreography by Michel Fokine, starring Tamara Karsavina as the Firebird and Mikhail Fokine as Prince Ivan.
The Music
Stravinsky's score marked a pivotal moment in musical history. While less radical than his later works like The Rite of Spring, The Firebird demonstrated his innovative approach to orchestration and rhythm. The score brilliantly weaves together two musical worlds: the chromatic, complex passages representing the magical realm (the Firebird and Kashchei), and the more traditional diatonic melodies drawing from Russian folk music for the human characters.
The famous "Infernal Dance" and the triumphant finale became particularly celebrated segments of the score. Stravinsky later created three concert suites (1911, 1919, and 1945) which helped popularize the music beyond the ballet stage.
The Story
Act I - The Enchanted Garden
The ballet opens in darkness, at the edge of Kashchei's magical realm. Prince Ivan Tsarevich, wandering at night, discovers a mysterious walled garden. As he enters, he witnesses a breathtaking sight: the Firebird herself, a magnificent creature with glowing, flame-like plumage, darting among trees laden with golden apples. Ivan, entranced, stalks and eventually captures the Firebird as she plucks a golden fruit. She pleads desperately for her freedom, and in an act of compassion, Ivan releases her. In gratitude, she presents him with one of her feathers, explaining that it holds magical powers and will come to his aid if he's ever in grave danger.
As dawn approaches, Ivan discovers he's not alone in the garden. Thirteen beautiful princesses emerge from Kashchei's palace, led by the lovely Princess Tsarevna. They begin a mesmerizing round dance (the "Khorovod"), gathering golden apples and playing games. Ivan, concealed, watches them and falls deeply in love with the Princess Tsarevna. When he reveals himself, the princesses are initially frightened -- they explain they are captives of the immortal Kashchei, a powerful sorcerer who turns any would-be rescuers to stone. Despite their warnings about Kashchei's fearsome power, Ivan vows to help them.
Act II - Kashchei's Spell
As daylight breaks, Ivan follows the princesses back to Kashchei's palace. The moment he steps onto the palace grounds, magical bells begin tolling, awakening Kashchei's guardian monsters and demonic subjects. They swarm around Ivan, and Kashchei himself appears -- a terrifying figure whose very gaze can turn men to stone. As Kashchei prepares to petrify Ivan, the prince remembers the Firebird's feather and waves it desperately.
The Firebird instantly appears in a flash of light. She forces Kashchei's monsters and subjects to perform an exhausting, frenzied dance (the famous "Infernal Dance") until they collapse from exhaustion. The Firebird then reveals to Ivan the secret of Kashchei's immortality: his soul is separated from his body, preserved inside a giant egg hidden in a casket. Ivan locates and seizes the egg. Each time he squeezes it, Kashchei writhes in agony. Finally, Ivan smashes the egg, destroying Kashchei's soul and ending his power forever.
Act III - The Transformation and Celebration
With Kashchei's death, his palace vanishes in a puff of smoke, and his dark enchantments begin to break. The garden transforms from a sinister realm to a place of natural beauty. All of Kashchei's victims -- dozens of knights and travelers he had turned to stone over the years -- return to life. The thirteen princesses are freed from their captivity, and Prince Ivan and Princess Tsarevna declare their love for each other.
The ballet concludes with a magnificent celebration of liberation and love. The formerly enchanted knights and nobles join in a grand celebration (scored to Stravinsky's majestic finale, based on the Russian folk song "By the Gates"). The Firebird appears one final time, blessing the union of Ivan and his princess. The couple is crowned Tsar and Tsarina as the celebration reaches its triumphant conclusion.
Symbolic Elements
The storyline incorporates several symbolic elements from Russian folklore:
- The Firebird represents both danger and salvation, a dual nature reflected in Stravinsky's music
- The golden apples symbolize temptation and forbidden knowledge
- Kashchei represents the ancient forces of chaos and evil in Slavic mythology
- The egg containing Kashchei's soul references the common folktale motif of external souls
- The transformation of the garden from darkness to light represents the triumph of love over evil
Each production of The Firebird has interpreted these story elements slightly differently, with some versions expanding certain scenes or adjusting the narrative focus. However, the core story of love, redemption, and the triumph of good over evil remains consistent across interpretations, which has contributed to its enduring appeal across cultures and generations.
Impact and Legacy
The Firebird marked several significant shifts in ballet history. It represented one of the first truly successful fusions of modernist music with classical ballet technique. The production's design by Alexander Golovine and Léon Bakst, with its vivid colors and Russian folk-art influences, helped establish the distinctive visual style of the Ballets Russes.
The ballet's impact extended beyond dance. It launched Stravinsky's international career and established a new model for ballet music that influenced composers throughout the 20th century. The work has been repeatedly rechoreographed, with notable versions by George Balanchine (1949), Maurice Béjart (1970), and Alexei Ratmansky (2012). Each new interpretation has brought fresh perspectives while maintaining the core narrative.
The Firebird also played a crucial role in popularizing Russian culture in the West. Its success helped establish ballet as a serious art form in countries where it had previously been seen as mere entertainment. The ballet's themes of transformation, redemption, and the triumph of good over evil have resonated with audiences for over a century.
Today, The Firebird remains a cornerstone of the classical ballet repertoire, performed by companies worldwide. Its influence can be seen in everything from modern dance choreography to film scores, and its fusion of traditional storytelling with modernist elements continues to inspire contemporary artists across disciplines.
The ballet also represents a crucial moment in the development of modern stage design. The original production's use of color, lighting, and costume helped establish new standards for theatrical presentation that influenced not just ballet but theater and opera as well.