The Firebird Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Firebird
Design by Bakst for the Firebird
Choreographed by	Michel Fokine
Composed by	Igor Stravinsky
Libretto by	Michel Fokine
Based on	Russian fairy tale
Date of premiere	25 June 1910
Place of premiere	Théâtre National de l'Opéra Paris
Original ballet company	Ballets Russes
Characters	Firebird Prince Ivan Tsarevna Kastchei the Immortal Captive Princesses Monsters
Designs by	Alexandre Golovine Léon Bakst (costumes for the Firebird and the Tsarevna)
Setting	Russia Fairy tale times
Created for	Tamara Karsavina
Genre	Fanstasy
Type	Classical

The Firebird is a famous ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky. It was his very first ballet score. Michel Fokine created the story and the dances for the ballet. The story comes from an old Russian fairy tale.

The ballet was first shown by the Ballets Russes dance company. This happened in Paris at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra on 25 June 1910. A famous dancer named Anna Pavlova was first asked to play the Firebird. But she found Stravinsky's music too difficult. So, the role went to Tamara Karsavina instead. The ballet is also known by its French name, L'Oiseau de Feu.

What is the Story of The Firebird?
How The Firebird Was Revived
Images for kids
See also

What is the Story of The Firebird?

The ballet tells the exciting story of Prince Ivan. He goes into the magical garden of the evil Kashchei. There, he finds and catches a special, glowing Firebird.

The Firebird promises to help Prince Ivan whenever he needs it. In return, she asks him to let her go. Prince Ivan agrees. He takes one magic feather from her tail and then sets her free.

Later, Prince Ivan sees twelve princesses dancing. One of them is the Tsarevna, the daughter of the Tsar. All the princesses are under the control of the evil sourcerer Kashchei. Prince Ivan falls in love with the Tsarevna. He asks Kashchei if he can marry her.

Kashchei gets very angry. He sends his scary monsters after the Prince. Kashchei is about to turn Prince Ivan into stone. But the Prince quickly waves the magic feather. The Firebird appears right away to save him!

The Firebird casts a spell on the monsters, and they all fall asleep. She then tells Prince Ivan a secret: Kashchei's soul is hidden inside an egg. Prince Ivan smashes the egg. When he does, Kashchei loses all his power. His monsters disappear, and his palace vanishes. In the end, Prince Ivan and the Tsarevna get married.

How The Firebird Was Revived

The Firebird has been performed many times since its first show. Different dance companies have created their own versions.

British Revival in 1954

In 1954, the ballet was brought back to life in Britain. Natalia Gontcharova designed new costumes and sets for this show. Margot Fonteyn danced the part of the Firebird. Michael Somes played the Prince. Frederick Ashton was Kastchei, and Svetlana Beriosova played the Tsarevna. This same show was also performed in New York City in 1955.

New York City Ballet Versions

George Balanchine created his own version of The Firebird in 1949. It was for the New York City Ballet. Marc Chagall designed the sets for this production. Maria Tallchief was the Firebird. Balanchine changed his version in 1970. He worked with Jerome Robbins, who helped with the group dance scenes. Chagall also updated his designs for this new show.

Maurice Béjart's Modern Take

In 1970, Maurice Béjart created a very different version for the Paris Opéra. He thought the old fairy tale style was hard to show on a modern stage. So, he made an abstract production. He even cast a male dancer (a danseur) in the main role of the Firebird. The dancers in his show wore denim clothes.

Images for kids

Stravinsky, sketched by Picasso in 1920
Tamara Karsavina as the Firebird and Michel Fokine as Prince Ivan in the 1910 Ballets Russes production.
Paul Petrov in the production by the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo in Sydney, 1936–1937
Ivan Bilibin. A warrior — costume design for 1931 performance of The Firebird
Reconstruction of the world premiere choreography and design at the Salzburger Pfingstfestspiele 2013. Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg.