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Firebird

Firebird

(1939)

Choreography

George Balanchine
Jerome Robbins

Music

Igor Stravinsky
45 minutes

Welcome to the fantastical world of Firebird.

Be the first to experience the premiere of Miami City Ballet’s Firebird, a thrilling new production of a beloved classic. Inspired by Russian folklore, this unique vision reveals all the drama and magic at the heart of one of the world’s greatest fairy tales.

While out hunting, Prince Ivan strays into a mystical realm where the Firebird dwells. Deep in the forest, he encounters a princess and they fall in love. But, mighty forces block their romantic dreams – Ivan’s true love is held in captivity by the evil sorcerer Kastchei. To free her, Ivan must battle Kastchei and his mythical monsters. He calls upon the enchanted Firebird, the only one who has the power to defeat this dark magic…

The magnificent Miami City Ballet dancers, Stravinsky’s sublime score and vivid new costume and projection designs combine to create an exhilarating adventure. This is not a Firebird you’ve seen before, and it won’t be one you’ll soon forget.

See you in the forest.

Program Notes

Alive with color, excitement, and spectacular effects, Firebird is a fantastical and thrilling fairy tale about magic, love, danger and liberation. Prince Ivan, a young hunter, strays into a mystical forest where he encounters the exotic, immortal Firebird who gives him an enchanted feather that will summon her when he is in dire need. When Ivan falls in love with a beautiful Princess who is under the spell of the evil sorcerer Kastchei, he calls the Firebird, and the battle between good and evil is joined...

The original production, with its ravishing score by the young Igor Stravinsky, was the great sensation of Diaghilev’s 1910 Ballets Russes season, and Balanchine’s 1949 version – which he created for his wife, Maria Tallchief – was New York City Ballet’s first great success. It is that version, later amplified by Jerome Robbins, that MCB is now presenting, with ravishing new costume and scenic designs by Anya Klepikov and projections by Wendall Harrington, all under the personal supervision of Lourdes Lopez, who danced the Firebird at NYCB for many years. “I grew up in this ballet,” she says. “I was a monster, I was a super, I was a princess, and then I was a Firebird.”

Now Firebird is reborn yet again, to thrill a new generation of lovers of fairy tales... and of ballet.

Miami City Ballet Premiere on February 14, 2020 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts; Miami, Florida.

* Igor Stravinsky THE FIREBIRD, Suite from the Ballet, 1945 version

Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for MCA/Universal Music Publishing Group, publisher and copyright owner.

Music

The Firebird, Suite from the Ballet (1945)

Choreography

© The George Balanchine Trust

Miami Premiere

February 14, 2020, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; Miami, FL.

Costumes

Design by Anya Klepikov
Construction by Coco DuPont, Euro Co Costumes, Inc., Rodney Gordon, Inc., Marian Jean Hose, Inc., Arnold Levine, Parsons-Meares, LTD., Tricorne, Inc., James Weeden, Eric Winterling, Inc., Miami City Ballet Costume Shop

Set

Design by Anya Klepikov
Construction by Hudson Scenic Studio, Inc

Lighting Design

James F. Ingalls

Synopsis

While out hunting, Prince Ivan strays into a mystical realm where the Firebird dwells. Deep in the forest, he encounters a princess and they fall in love. But, mighty forces block their romantic dreams – Ivan's true love is held in captivity by the evil sorcerer Kastchei.

History

Firebird, the magical Russian folkloric ballet that propelled New York City ballet to stardom in 1949 is about to soar straight into the hearts of South Florida audiences when it debuts in February in Miami.

Did you know?

The Firebird character itself marked the first female principal role where the ballerina played neither a woman nor a lover. She was a strange being who aided the prince, but not a romantic prospect.

I grew up in this ballet…I was a monster, I was a super, I was a princess, and then I was a Firebird.

Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director - Miami City Ballet

“Compelling and mysterious… a masterpiece of musical narration.”

- New York Times