Firebird

Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for his Ballets Russes, The Firebird had its world premiere in Paris on 25 June 1910, launching Igor Stravinsky to international fame overnight. Based on Russian folk legends, the ballet follows Prince Ivan, who captures a magical Firebird deep in an enchanted forest. In return for her freedom, the Firebird grants Ivan a feather to call upon in his hour of need — a gift that proves vital when he faces the immortal sorcerer Kashchei. Michel Fokine's original choreography and Stravinsky's blazing, revolutionary score marked a turning point in the history of ballet.