Infernal Dance (from The Firebird)

Stravinsky was never more successful, at least in commercial terms, than he was with the music for his very first ballet, The Firebird, which was written for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1910. The reason for the popularity of the score is not too difficult to find. Alongside its brilliantly extravagant colouring and its irresistible rhythmic interest, its great attraction is that it tells its story through its tunes. It is about the evil King Kaschei who - in spite of his supernatural powers but with the help of the magic Firebird - is finally defeated by the heroic Prince Ivan. On the musical level, it is about themes of exotic malignancy finally displaced by wholesome romantic melody. The Infernal Dance represents King Kaschei at his most dangerous. It is a virulent study in malevolence characterised not only by its explosive dynamics and ferocious rhythmic syncopations but also by a tune that is too wild to conform to civilised standards of harmony.