Petrushka (ballet)
Ballet by Stravinsky about a puppet's tragic love and jealousy.
Petrushka is a ballet by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, created for the 1911 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with stage designs and costumes by Alexandre Benois, who also helped Stravinsky write the libretto. It premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 13 June 1911, featuring Vaslav Nijinsky in the title role, Tamara Karsavina as the lead ballerina, Alexander Orlov as the Moor, and Enrico Cecchetti as the Charlatan. The ballet tells the story of three puppets brought to life by the Charlatan during the 1830 Shrovetide Fair in Saint Petersburg. Petrushka loves the Ballerina, but she prefers the Moor. Hurt and angry, Petrushka curses the Charlatan for creating him only for suffering. He challenges the Moor, who kills him with a scimitar. The horrified crowd gathers, and the Charlatan insists Petrushka is merely a straw and cloth puppet without real life or emotion. As the crowd disperses, Petrushka’s ghost rises above the puppet theatre at nightfall, shaking his fist and thumbing his nose at the Charlatan, who flees in terror before Petrushka collapses in a second death. The ballet is noted for its unified fusion of music, dance, and design. It remains one of the most popular Ballets Russes productions and is typically performed today using the original choreography and designs. The character of Petrushka is a traditional Russian hand puppet, a trickster and rebel known across Europe under various names, including Punch in England and Pulcinella in Italy. Stravinsky’s music was inspired by a vision of a puppet exasperating an orchestra, and it features the famous bitonal Petrushka chord, combining C major and F major triads.
- field
- Ballet
- composer
- Igor Stravinsky
- premiere_venue
- Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
- choreographer
- Michel Fokine
- libretto_assistance
- Alexandre Benois
- notable_dancers
- Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Alexander Orlov, Enrico Cecchetti
Lore & Background
Petrushka is a ballet that fuses music, dance, and design into a unified whole, premiering in Paris on 13 June 1911 as part of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes season. The story unfolds during the 1830 Shrovetide Fair in Saint Petersburg, where a Charlatan brings three puppets to life. Petrushka, a hand puppet and a traditional Russian trickster figure related to Punch in England and Pulcinella in Italy, loves the Ballerina, but she rejects him for the Moor. Jealous and enraged, Petrushka challenges the larger, stronger Moor and is killed by his scimitar. The Charlatan reassures the horrified crowd that Petrushka is merely straw and cloth, but after everyone leaves, Petrushka’s ghost rises above the puppet theatre, shakes his fist at the Charlatan, and collapses in a second death. The ballet’s composition began when Stravinsky envisioned a puppet exasperating an orchestra with cascading arpeggios; he initially intended it as a concert piece, but Diaghilev saw its theatrical potential and linked it to the Russian Petrushka puppet tradition, which had long been performed in street theatres. The original choreography by Michel Fokine and designs by Alexandre Benois remain widely used today. Grace Robert noted in 1946 that the ballet’s perfect fusion of elements and its theme of the human spirit’s tragedy give it universal appeal.
Reader's Guide
Petrushka is significant for its seamless fusion of music, dance, and stage design into a cohesive artistic whole. The ballet’s score is distinguished by the Petrushka chord, a bitonal combination of C major and F major triads played simultaneously, which sonically introduces the title puppet. The work remains a cornerstone of the ballet repertoire and is frequently staged using the original choreography by Michel Fokine and the sets and costumes by Alexandre Benois. The narrative follows three puppets brought to life by a Charlatan during the 1830 Shrovetide Fair in Saint Petersburg. Petrushka, a hand puppet and a traditional Russian trickster figure akin to Punch in England or Pulcinella in Italy, loves the Ballerina, but she prefers the Moor. Jealous and anguished, Petrushka challenges the Moor, who kills him with a scimitar. The Charlatan dismisses the death by reminding the crowd that Petrushka is merely straw and cloth. As night falls, Petrushka’s ghost rises above the puppet theatre, shaking his fist at the Charlatan before collapsing in a second death. The ballet’s theme—the timeless tragedy of the human spirit—and its perfect integration of elements have secured its enduring appeal.
Did You Know?
- The Petrushka chord consists of C major and F♯ major triads played together.
- The ballet's original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with stage designs by Alexandre Benois.
- Petrushka is a hand puppet character known across Europe as Punch, Polichinelle, Pulcinella, or Kasperle.
- Stravinsky originally conceived the music as a pure concert work, a Konzertstück.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of Petrushka?
The ballet follows a puppet who falls desperately in love with a dancing girl, but his jealousy over her growing attraction to a Moor drives the story toward a tragic conclusion. It is essentially a tale of unrequited love and fatal rivalry among puppets.
Why is Petrushka still performed today?
It remains one of the most popular works in the Ballets Russes canon and is still typically staged with its original Fokine choreography and Benois visual designs more than a century after its debut. Its vivid orchestration and dramatic puppet narrative continue to draw audiences and companies worldwide.
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