PROGRAM NOTES
FINALE from the FIREBIRD
IGOR STRAVINSKY
In 1910 Russian composer Igor Stravinsky composed the ballet L’Oiseau de feu (French for The Firebird) which tells the story of Ivan, a young prince who, while out on a hunt, discovers a beautiful and magical firebird. She is a wild creature, resplendent with blazing red feathers. Mesmerized by the sight of her, Prince Ivan captures her at once, but she begs for her freedom, and because of his good heart he relents. In gratitude, she gives Ivan one of her enchanted feathers and promises to come to his aid if he ever finds himself in trouble. Later, Prince Ivan finds himself in just such a situation – he longs to free a beautiful princess and her twelve princess friends from the curse of the evil sorcerer Koschei, who has turned the princesses’ knights into stone in his dungeon. Prince Ivan is about to be turned into stone himself, when he remembers the feather the firebird gave him, and summons her. With spirited movements she enters the scene and mesmerizes once more, first leading all of Koschei’s monsters in an infernal dance, then putting them to sleep with a lullaby. With the monsters and the evil sorcerer asleep, the firebird helps Prince Ivan break the curse, transforming the dungeon into a gorgeous palace, and bringing the once-petrified knights back to life and reuniting them with their princesses once more. The Finale then begins, as the break of dawn, with a hymn of awakening, played softly at first by the French horn, and then in turn by the rest of the orchestra. We hear the strings shimmer as they take up the tune, which gradually builds in intensity before bursting forth in glorious brass fanfare. Stravinksy’s Firebird Finale is an exuberant celebration of life, of freedom, and of new beginnings – it is a piece that, in spite of the darkness and torment of today, heralds the promise of a new tomorrow.
Written by Hannah Sto. Nino
IGOR STRAVINSKY
In 1910 Russian composer Igor Stravinsky composed the ballet L’Oiseau de feu (French for The Firebird) which tells the story of Ivan, a young prince who, while out on a hunt, discovers a beautiful and magical firebird. She is a wild creature, resplendent with blazing red feathers. Mesmerized by the sight of her, Prince Ivan captures her at once, but she begs for her freedom, and because of his good heart he relents. In gratitude, she gives Ivan one of her enchanted feathers and promises to come to his aid if he ever finds himself in trouble. Later, Prince Ivan finds himself in just such a situation – he longs to free a beautiful princess and her twelve princess friends from the curse of the evil sorcerer Koschei, who has turned the princesses’ knights into stone in his dungeon. Prince Ivan is about to be turned into stone himself, when he remembers the feather the firebird gave him, and summons her. With spirited movements she enters the scene and mesmerizes once more, first leading all of Koschei’s monsters in an infernal dance, then putting them to sleep with a lullaby. With the monsters and the evil sorcerer asleep, the firebird helps Prince Ivan break the curse, transforming the dungeon into a gorgeous palace, and bringing the once-petrified knights back to life and reuniting them with their princesses once more. The Finale then begins, as the break of dawn, with a hymn of awakening, played softly at first by the French horn, and then in turn by the rest of the orchestra. We hear the strings shimmer as they take up the tune, which gradually builds in intensity before bursting forth in glorious brass fanfare. Stravinksy’s Firebird Finale is an exuberant celebration of life, of freedom, and of new beginnings – it is a piece that, in spite of the darkness and torment of today, heralds the promise of a new tomorrow.
Written by Hannah Sto. Nino
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
KLAUS BADELT
Written by Norman Babia
KLAUS BADELT
Written by Norman Babia
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