CCLXXXVII. STRAVINSKY, Igor: Petroushka

CCLXXXVII. STRAVINSKY, Igor (1882-1971)

Petroushka (1911)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
André Orozco-Estrada, cond.
(39:40)

Stravinsky and Nijinsky

While completing The Firebird (see Post CCXXV) in 1910, Stravinsky had a bizarre vision: a girl dances herself to death, in a pagan ceremony.

But Le Sacre (see Post VII) would wait its turn. Although Diaghilev was excited about the idea, upon a visit to the composer, he found him hard at work on a completely different idea:

"I saw a man in evening dress, with long hair, the musician or poet of the romantic tradition. He placed several heteroclite objects on the keyboard and rolled them up and down. At this, the orchestra exploded with the most vehement protestations -- hammer blows, in fact ..."

FIRST SCENE -- The Shrove-tide Fair

A. The crowds

**

**

B. The Mountebank's Booth

C. Russian Dance

SECOND SCENE -- Petoushka's Room

**

THIRD SCENE -- The Moor's Room

A. Entrance of the Ballerina

B. Waltz


 

FOURTH SCENE -- Grand Carnival

FOURTH SCENE -- Grand Carnival

A. Dance of the Nuns

B. Dance of the Peasant and Bear

C. Dance of the Gipsy Girls

D. The Dance of the Coachmen

E. The Masqueraders

F. Conclusion (Petroushka's Death)