round dance , led by the solo oboe , and Ivan falls in love with Unearthly Beauty .
As the princesses dance with Ivan , they fail to notice that sunrise is coming , heralded by trumpet calls ; by daylight , they must be back in the castle . Ivan tries to follow them in , but Unearthly Beauty warns him away .
However , the love-smitten Prince does succeed in breaking into the castle , setting off one of Stravinsky ’ s most brilliant orchestral sequences — and one not included in the familiar Suite — as magical carillons alert Kastchei of danger ; we hear his savage theme awaking in the brass . Terrifying roars of low brass and baleful bassoons announce his monstrous approach . The solo voice of the violin represents Unearthly Beauty pleading for mercy for Ivan , but Kastchei decides to turn him to stone like all his other victims .
In the nick of time , Prince Ivan remembers the magic feather and summons the Firebird to his aid . She forces Kastchei and his minions to dance until they drop in exhaustion ; this is the famous “ Infernal Dance of King Kastchei ,” a brutally rhythmic dance built on syncopations and showcasing all sections of the orchestra .
Putting them all to sleep with the rocking “ Lullaby ” led by solo bassoon , the Firebird tells the Prince that Kastchei ’ s soul lives in a buried egg . If he can crush it , he will kill the ogre and break the spell that binds the princesses . The Prince accomplishes this . Kastchei dies , those turned to stone are returned to life , and the castle vanishes . In the majestic Finale , Prince Ivan weds his Princess . Its melody , introduced by solo horn , is another authentic Russian folksong that spreads through the orchestra . The ballet ends in a blaze of bell-tolling Russian splendor .
Instrumentation : Four flutes including two piccolos , three oboes , English horn , four clarinets including E-flat clarinet and bass clarinet , four bassoons including two contrabassoons , four horns , three trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , three harps , piano , celesta , strings . Offstage : three trumpets , two Wagner tubas , two bass Wagner tubas .
Notes by Janet E . Bedell , Copyright © 2017
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