DESCRIPTION:
Istituto Europeo di Musica
General and Art Director Davide Polovineo

Archivio IEM- Prot. Stravinsky-Pet. 16

Stravinsky's Petrushka
London Symphony Orchestra
Cond. Valery Gergiev

Structure in four tableaux.
Episodes:

Tableau I: The Shrovetide Fair
[Introduction]
A group of Drunken Revelers passes, dancing
The Master of Ceremonies entertains the Crowd from his booth above
An Organ-Grinder appears in the Crowd with a [woman] Dancer
The Organ-Grinder begins to play
The Dancer dances, beating time on the triangle
At the other end of the stage a Music Box plays, another [woman] Dancer dancing around it.
The first Dancer plays the triangle again
The Organ and Music Box stop playingg; the Master of Ceremonies resumes his pitch
The Merry Group returns
Two Drummers, stepping up in front of the Little Theater, attract the attention of the Crowd by their drumrolls
At the front of [i.e. from inside] the Little Theater appears the Old Magician.
The Magic Trick
The Magician plays the flute
The curtain of the Little Theater opens and the Crowd sees three puppets: Petrushka (Guignol), a Moor, and a Ballerina
The Magician brings them to life by touching them lightly with his flute.
Russian Dance
Petrushka, the Moor, and the Ballerina suddenly begin to dance, to the great astonishment of the Crowd
Darkness, the Curtain falls

Tableau II: Petrushka's Room
As the Curtain rises, the door to Petrushka's room opens suddenly; a foot kicks him onstage; Petrushka falls and the door closes again behind him
Petrushka's curses
The Ballerina enters
The Ballerina leaves
Petrushka's despair
Darkness. Curtain.

Tableau III: The Moor's Room
[Introduction]
The Moor dances
Appearance of the Ballerina
Dance of the Ballerina (cornet in hand)
Waltz (The Ballerina and the Moor)
The Moor and the Ballerina prick up their ears
Appearance of Petrushka
The Fight between the Moor and Petrushka. The Ballerina faints.
The Moor throws Petrushka Out. Darkness. Curtain.

Tableau IV: The Shrovetide Fair (Toward Evening)
[Introduction]
The Wet-Nurses' Dance
A Peasant enters with a Bear. Everyone scatters.
The Peasant plays the pipe. The Bear walks on his hind feet.
The Peasant and the Bear leave.
A Reveling Merchant and two Gypsy Women Enter. He irresponsibly amuses himself by throwing bank notes to the Crowd.
The Gypsy Women dance. The Merchant plays the accordion.
The Merchant and the Gypsies leave
Dance of the Coachmen and the Grooms
The Wet-Nurses dance with the Coachmen and the Grooms
The Mummers
The Devil (Mummer) induces the Crowd to frolic with him
Buffoonery of the Mummers (Goat and Pig)
The Mummers and the Maskers dance
The rest of the Crowd joins in the Mummers' Dance
The Crowd continues to dance without taking notice of the cries coming from the Little Theater.
The dances break off. Petrushka dashes from the Little Theater, pursued by the Moor, whom the Ballerina tries to restrain.
The furious Moor seizes him and strikes him with his saber.
Petrushka falls, his head broken
A crowd forms around Petrushka
He dies, still moaning.
A Policeman is sent to look for the Magician
The Magician arrives
He picks up Petrushka's corpse, shaking it.
The Crowd disperses.
The Magician remains alone on stage. He drags Petrushka's dorpse toward the Little Theater.
Above the Little Theater appears the Ghost of Petrushka, menacing, thumbing his nose at the Magician.
The terrified Magician lets the Puppet-Petrushka drop from his hands, and exits quickly, casting frightened glances over his shoulder.
Curtain