Two fairy stories dredged from the mists of pre-history: Petrushka (the Russian word for the herb parsley), the puppet with a soul and Cinderella, the poor young woman who becomes a princess.
After the major success of Firebird, Diaghilev was determined to commission a second ballet from Stravinsky. The composer was already considering the scenario that was, eventually, to become the the Rite of Spring when a new idea occurred to him centred around a disruptive, trickster puppet that was to evolve, with a little help from Diaghilev, into the Shrove-tide puppet Petrushka (aka Punch/Pulcinella). The ballet was given its first performance in Paris on 13th June, 1911, a production which has been described as ‘perfect fusion of music, choreography, and décor’.
Russian dance 7:00
Petrushka’s cell 10:03
Ballerina’s dance 16:55
Death of Petrushka 31:01
Another fairy tale, but from 34 years later. Prokofiev’s Cinderella follows the familiar outline of Perrault’s version of the story. It was first performed by the Bolshoi in 1945 and, with its sumptuous melodies and choreography, and its humour and opportunity for theatrical splendour, it’s remained a favourite of ballet companies and – in the form of suites – in the purely orchestral repertoire ever since.
Cinderella: the complete ballet…
… and the First Orchestral Suite:
00:00 1. Introduction
02:59 2. Pas de châle
06:59 3. Quarrel
10:40 4. Fairy Godmother and Fairy Winter
15:59 5. Mazurka
21:51 6. Cinderella Goes to the Ball
24:51 7. Cinderella’s Waltz
27:35 8. Midnight
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Iaago
The Art of Listening 