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100th Anniversary of Stravinsky's Firebird in 2010

Jul. 08, 2009

June 2010 marks the 100th year following the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Firebird, a piece made immortal by countless ballet companies, orchestras, and films throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. On June 25th, 1910, Stravinsky's Firebird ballet was premiered by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris. At the time, Stravinsky was only 28 years old, but his music was an instant success, allowing the world to recognize his enormous talent and unique compositional voice. Stravinsky would later premiere The Rite of Spring also with Diaghilev, to international uproar.

Stravinsky's Firebird was so popular that he composed several orchestral suites to allow smaller orchestras to perform the music without staging the ballet. In addition to the original 1910 full ballet score, there exist orchestral suites composed in 1912, 1919, and 1945, as well as a reduced orchestration of the original ballet, and two distinct versions for wind band. Of the orchestral suites, the 1945 version contains the most material from the original ballet, and is often performed by orchestras and ballet companies alike.

This summer, the New York City Ballet performs Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1945 version) choreographed by the legendary George Balanchine, who choreographed this work's first incarnation at the New York City Ballet from 1949-1965 and again in revivals throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to The Firebird, many other works by Stravinsky also see performances this summer and in the 9/10 season, including the ever-popular Violin Concerto in D, Symphony in Three Movements, Dances Concertantes, and Symphony in C.

For more information on Igor Stravinsky, visit his profile page at www.schott-music.com.

Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird (1910)
2pic.3(3.pic.).3.ca.hn.3.bcl.3(3.cbsn).cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.4perc-3hp.cel.pno-str
on stage: 3tp.3ttbn. 2btb.2glock.
40'

Firebird Suite (1912)
4(1, 2, 3.pic).3.ca.3.bcl.3(3.cbsn.).cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.4perc-3hp.pno-str
28'

Firebird Suite (1919)
2(2.pic).2.2.2-4.2.3.1-timp.3perc-hp.pno-str
20'

Firebird Suite (1945)
2(2 pic).2.2.2-4.2.3.1-timp.3perc-hp.pno-str
28'

Violin Concerto in D (1931)
pic.2.2.ca.Eb cl.2.3(3.cbsn)-4.3.3.1-timp-str
22'

Dances Concertantes (1941-1942)
1.1.1.1-2.1.1.0-timp-str
20'

Symphony in Three Movements (1945)
pic.2.2.3(3.bcl).2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc-hp.pno-str
24'

Symphony in C (1940)
pic.2.2.2.2-4.2.3.1-timp-str
30'

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