TELEGRAM TO COMPOSER

Radio Record, 12 August 1938, Page 19

TELEGRAM TO COMPOSER

WHEN STRAVINSKY WROTE "THE FIREBIRD" FOR THE RUSSIAN BALLET

AT the end of the summer of. 1909, a telegraph messenger arrived at Igor Stravinsky’s house in St. Petersburg. The telegram was from Diaghileff, the greatest ballet producer of modern times, who had just arrived at the capital, asking Stravinsky to write the music for "L’Oiseau de Feu" (The Fire Bird) for the Russian ballet season at the Paris Opera House in the spring of 1910. Although alarmed by the fact that this was a commission for a fixed date, and afraid lest he should fail to complete the work on time, Stravinsky accepted the order. . Stravinsky considered the commission most flattering to a rising composer of 28, especially since he was chosen from among the musicians of his generation. To collaborate in so important an enterprise, side by side with personages recognised as masters in their own spheres, made a deep impression upon him. ° ‘ The music of the ballet is captivating. As it has since been arranged as a symphonic suite and recorded, listeners now have a favourable opportunity of hearing and rehearsing it. The fairy tale on which it is based is one of those in which good and wicked fairies are in conflict, the good, as almost goes without saying, triumphing in the end. As a ballet, the stage picture discloses an enchanted garden, mysteriously lighted. After the mutterings in the strings at the opening, the Fire Bird enters. She is a glorious creature of flaming feathers.

'A young prince hidden in the garden captures her, but she obtains. her -release by giving him one of her magic jewelled feathers. Kastchei, the evil spirit of the ‘place,

appears with his grotesque retinue, The feather proves a charm which.saves the young prince’s life, and the Fire Bird appears and makes the crowd break into a frenzied dance. The demon is finally destroyed. , Listeners to 4X%A will. hear Stravinsky’s "Fire Bird" Suite, played by the Philadelphia Orchestra under ‘Leopold Stokowski, on Sunday. afters noon, August 14. so