FIREBIRD

Košice State Philharmonic
Tomáš BRAUNER, conductor

Program:

Maurice Ravel: La Valse, choreographic poem 15’
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird, ballet in two acts (1909–1910) 40’

Ravel’s choreographicpoem *La Valse* was composedbetween 1919 and 1920, and the composer originally intended it as a tribute to the Viennese waltz. He had been working on it even before World War I, but the experience of the war fundamentally altered its character. Instead of carefree nostalgia for the golden age of the waltz, the result is a work in which the elegant dance gradually transforms into a portrait of a world tossed about by turbulent events. Ravel described the piece as a “whirlwind of the fantastic and the fateful,” and its music comes across as a fascinating and unsettling transformation of the world of the waltz. From the dark orchestral murmur, the characteristic rhythms of the waltz gradually emerge, growing ever more intense. The music shines with magnificent orchestral colors, refined details, and virtuosic instrumentation; yet beneath the surface of its elegance, one can sense tension and uncertainty. The waltz gradually spirals out of control and culminates in a dazzling, almost demonic torrent of music.This brilliant orchestral composition presents a symbolic portrait of a fading era, and in it, Ravel uses the traditional waltz as a nostalgic reminder of the old world. The combination of intoxicating elegance and fierce energy makes *La Valse* one of the most impressive orchestral works of the 20th century.

The ballet *The Firebird* marked a decisive step on Igor Stravinsky’s path to international fame. When impresario Sergei Diaghilev commissioned the young, until then relatively unknown composer in 1909 to write the music for a new ballet for his company, the Ballets Russes, Stravinsky was just beginning his career. However, the work’s premiere in Paris was a resounding success and paved the way for his future compositions. The plot of *The Firebird* is based on Russian folk tales. Prince Ivan enters the enchanted garden of the immortal sorcerer Kashchei, where he manages to capture the mysterious Firebird. In exchange for his freedom, the bird gives him one of its feathers, which later becomes the key to Ivan’s salvation. With the help of the magical bird, the prince defeats Kashchei, frees the enchanted princesses, and triumphs over the dark forces. Even in this early work, Stravinsky’s extraordinary imagination and sense of orchestral color are fully evident. The music creates a world of sharp contrasts. Kashchei’s mysterious and fantastical world alternates with the lyrical, song-like scenes of the princesses, while the Firebird is characterized by radiant, dynamic, and rhythmically virtuosic music. Stravinsky made use of the large symphonic orchestra with extraordinary inventiveness and achieved a rich palette of sonic combinations.