Magnifique ❤

Igor Stravinsky wrote his ballet Petrushka as a classic love triangle, but told through the story of three puppets. Petrushka loves the Ballerina, the Ballerina loves the Moor, and the Moor hates Petrushka. The work uses the traditions of Russian puppet theatre but for a ballet. This unfolds in four scenes. Tableau 1 opens with the Shrovetide Fair in the middle of St. Petersburg in the 1830s. A Magician unveils the Puppet Theatre and brings his hitherto wooden actors to life. The Moor, in turban and pantaloons, is all bravado. The Ballerina (Tamara Karsavina) dances en pointe and it is left to Petrushka to be clumsy. The Ballerina has eyes only for the Moor and Petrushka for the Ballerina. Petrushka was a stock figure in Russian puppetry, dating back to at least the 17th century. In a sense, Petrushka could be thought of as equivalent to Punch of Punch and Judy. Petrushka was depicted as a long-nose jester, wearing a red skirt and a pointed hat with a tuft on top. The orchestration and rapidly changing rhythms perfectly illustrate the haste and movements of the party. How not to resist the magic and poetry of Igor Stravinsky once again. With all my love for him. *Lucien*

The flutes sound so good

Brilliant! Clarity and precision. Telling the tale.

Elegante!

Very enjoyable and enervating - did anyone else get a sense of Charles Ives - ‘3 Places… ‘at times?