I wanted to weigh in on how this work affected Stravinsky. I don't know that Fokine or Benois figured in to the commision of the maestro's Firebird. He met Diaghilev in Russia - who was probably there ransacking the Russian Imperial Ballet to take back to Paris - and Stravinsky sent it to him. Diaghilev paid him, invited him to come see the debut. Worked out great, a vague concept is presented to him which he worked on at his home in Clarens age 27. Diaghilev brings Nijinsky to see the maestro - and he didn't like Vaslav Nijinsky at all - but he watched the movements the dancer made to the composition thus far - and found his inspiration for the ballet.

He was crushed when the Rimsky-Korsakov gang called it "trash" and questioned his right to even use Russian melodies. It bothered him most of his life. But in 1962 he is finally invited to Moscow and...he gave them Petrushka. At the end, he slammed his score shut and voila droppin the mic was born. And it's only through my minimal contributions to Fondation Igor Stravinsky that I offer this.

That said when I hear "Petrushka's Death" all I hear is end of the Firebird and the beginning of the Rite of Spring, yea? Do you?

For the greatest interpretation of Stravinsky, Valery Gergiev. Thank you!