Stravinsky: The Firebird

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Joshua Weilerstein

Clarinet, Timpani, Performing, Trombone, Cello, Trumpet, Bassoon, Classicalmusic, Performing Arts, Arts, Violin, Flute, Piano, Conductor, Music, Weilerstein

4.9 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 January 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1906, the impresario Sergei Diaghilev created a sensation in Paris with an exhibition of Russian Art. This was the first time a major showing of Russian art had appeared in Paris, and from this point forward, the city was obsessed with Russian art, literature, and music. Diaghilev, ever the promoter, then put together the Ballets Russes, the Russian Ballet, in 1909, a company based in Paris that performed ballets composed, choreographed, and danced, by Russians. Over the next 20 years, the Ballets Russes became one the most influential and successful ballet companies of the entire 20th century, and a young composer that Diaghilev plucked from obscurity named Igor Stravinsky had a lot to do with their success. The first season of the Ballet Russes relied on the big names of Russian music, like Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky Korsakov, but Diaghilev was always restlessly searching for something new.

For many years, Diaghilev had wanted to bring not only new Russian art, but also new Russian music to the West, and now he had found the perfect combination - Diaghilev brought together the Russian artist and writer Alexandre Benoit and the Russian choreographer Michel Fokine to create a Russian nationalistic ballet based on Russian folk tales and mythology. He then took a risk, giving the commission for the music to Igor Stravinsky. The result? The Firebird, a ballet that provoked an ecstatic reaction, a score that would propel Stravinsky to worldwide popularity, 3 different orchestral suites played almost every year by orchestras all over the world, and a 19 year collaboration and friendship between Stravinsky and Diaghilev which only ended in Diaghilev’s death and resulted in 8 original ballets, including The Rite of Spring and Petrushka.

But, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. All of this had to start somewhere, so lets explore the Firebird, in all of its different versions and orchestrations, along with the folk tales and stories that go along with it. Join us!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Sticky Notes, the classical music podcast. My name is Joshua Weilersdine,
0:12.0	I'm a conductor and I'm the music director of the Phoenix Orchestra of Boston and the
0:16.0	chief conductor designate of the Alborg Symphony. This podcast is for anyone who loves classical
0:21.2	music, works in the field, or is just getting ready to dive in to this amazing world of incredible
0:26.9	music. Before we get started, I want to thank my new Patreon sponsors Simon, Chris,
0:31.1	and all of my other Patreon sponsors for making season 9 possible. If you'd like to support
0:36.1	the show, please head over to patreon.com slash Sticky Notes Podcast. And if you are a fan of the
0:41.3	show, please take a moment to give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. Every rating or review,
0:46.4	let's more people find the show and it is greatly appreciated. So I've just come back from Stockholm
0:53.2	where I had a fantastic week with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. We did a really eclectic
0:58.8	program with Debussy's La Mer, Ethel Smites on the Cliffs of Cornwall, the Lungfist Tuba Concerto
1:05.6	called Landscape and Sibelius's Swan of Tuonella. It's such a wonderful orchestra and great audience,
1:12.7	and I just had an absolutely fantastic time. I'm now preparing for a couple of weeks in North America
1:18.0	with the Vancouver Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony. I'll tell you a little bit more about that
1:22.2	next week. In the meantime, we are now going to start this month of looking at the great three
1:29.7	Stravinsky Ballets, the early Ballets of Stravinsky, the Firebird, Petruska, and the right of
1:35.4	Spring. I really hope you enjoy it.
1:57.6	In 1906, the Impressario Sarage Diagolev created a sensation in Paris with an exhibition of
2:04.0	Russian art. This was the first time a major showing of Russian art had appeared in Paris,
2:09.8	and from this point forward, the city was obsessed with Russian art, literature, and music.
2:15.8	Diagolev, ever the promoter, then put together the Ballet Russe, the Russian Ballet. In 1909,
2:21.8	a company based in Paris that performed Ballets composed, choreographed and danced by Russians.
	...

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