Customer Reviews

Firebird

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This book is clearly based on the ballet, and not the folktale directly. The illustrations show the characters dancing, executing leaps and all that. This has the advantage of making the artwork in this book some of the most beautiful I've seen in a while, with the very small disadvantage of making it sometimes a little opaque in terms of the actual story.

Luckily, the book is well-written as well as well-illustrated, so the pictures can accompany the story without having to carry it.

This would be a good addition to nearly any library - full of excitement and, well, beautiful dance. It's a bit wordy for the younger set, so consider your audience.

My 6 year old daughter had this story read to her at camp during "Fairytale Week," and she came home asking for it.
The illustrations by Rachel Isadora are very beautiful. They depict the story as if you are watching the Balanchine ballet of Stravinsky's The Firebird on stage.
I had not encountered this tale before, about a prince who captures a magical firebird. Realizing quickly that this wild creature must remain free, he releases her. The firebird will repay this kindness, in a battle pitting the brave young prince against another extraordinary spirit inhabiting the forest, called Katschei.
Recommended for those who admire good-hearted princes and brave young maidens, as well as fantastic illustrations of dance.

Igor Stravinsky's appeal for audiences is based mainly on his three ballets: "The Firebird," "Petrushka," and "The Rite of Spring." All three ballets were composed and premiered before World War I, which is important to note because after the war Stavinksy and many of his contemporaries believed music had to change in the new world that emerged. In other words, Romanticism seemed irrelevant in light of the Great War and these ballets represent, if anything, the triumph of the Romantic aesthetic. Stravinsky essentially repudiated his works, but they remain popular and "The Firebird," which most reflects the musical sensibilities of the 19th century, is the one that still captures the imagination the most.

Beyond the music, the story is also one of the more interesting in classical ballet, which is what leads us to this book, which is adapted and illustrated by former ballerina Rachel Isadora. The story of the Firebird comes from a variety of Russian fairy tales and brings together not only the Romantic interest in the supernatural but also a sense of nationalism that is often inherent in Russian music of this period. For Stravinsky the goal was to come up with a way of representing for the audience the swirling and soaring brilliance of the Firebird in musical form. For Isadora the task is easier, because she has a myriad collection of dazzling colors to create her impression.

Isadora's version is inspired by the famous choreographer George Balanchine's version of the ballet, so anyone picking up "Firebird" expecting the original folk tale will be somewhat disappointed. But fans of the ballet should be enchanted. We follow as Prince Ivan first discovers the Firebird in an enchanted forest and she gives him a brilliant red feather from her tell that he can use to call her in a time of need. The Prince then meets ten beautiful princesses and falls into the hand of the evil sorcerer, Katschei, who wants to capture them all. In the end, it is the Firebird who helps Prince Ivan in his hour of need and helps him to end the evil reign of Katschei forever.

Isadora tells the story as a ballet, with the brightly colored figures dancing across the pages of this book. Her artwork becomes more impressionistic as we get deeper into the story, which follows the structure of the ballet quite clearly. Young readers, especially if they are young ballerinas, will be interested in some of Isadora's other books, such as her version of "Swan Lake" and her charming story of "Lili at Ballet."

You should read this book. Even though this book is easy, it has a lot of wonderful pictures. I recommend you to read this book.