The Firebird was the first ballet that Stravinsky composed for Dijagilev’s company, who premiered it in 1910 in Paris. The success of the ballet guaranteed Stravinsky instant fame. The choreography and script for the ballet was provided by Mihail Fokin. The ballet has the following construction:

1. Introduction
2. Katchei’s Enchanted Garden
3. The Firebird Appears, Pursued By Prince Ivan
4. Dance Of The Firebird
5. The Firebird Is Captured By Prince Ivan
6. The Firebird’s Pleading.
7. Appearance Of The Thirteen Enchanted Princesses
8. The Princesses Play With The Golden Apples
9. Prince Ivan Suddenly Appears
10. Round Dance Of The Princesses
11. Daybreak
12. Prince Ivan Enters Kastchei’s Palace. Fairy Carillon. Kastchei’s Monsters Appear And Capture Prince Ivan
13. Arrival Of Kastchei The Immortal, Dialogue Between Kastchei And Prince Ivan; The Princesses Intercede
14. The Firebird Appears
15. The Dance Of Kastchei’s Court, Bewitchedby The Firebird
16. Infernal Dance Of Kastchei’s Subjects
17. Berceuse
18. Death Of Kastchei
19. The Palace And Creatures Of Kastchei Disappear. The Petrified Knights Come To Life. General Rejoicing

The immortal evil Kastchei holds maidens prisoner in his enchanted kingdom, and turns men into stone. He can remain alive for as long as his soul, which is protected in the form of an egg in a basket, remains undamaged. Prince Ivan, while chasing the Firebird, stumbles into Kastchei’s enchanted garden. After catching the bird, he asks for a feather and then lets it free. He then encounters thirteen girls, and falls in love with one of them. He learns that they are all princesses who live under the spell of a green armed cannibalistic ogre. He follows them into the enormous palace where the dreadful beasts standing guard, capture him. But before he himself is conjured into stone, he remembers the magical feather of the Firebird. He waves it once and the Firebird appears, who relates the secret of Kaschei’s immortality. Ivan breaks the egg that means life and Kaschei immediately perishes. His spells are lifted and all the prisoners are released. Ivan and the princess become engaged.