Ballet
Petrushka
Petrushka is a bittersweet story about a puppet with real feelings. Made for the legendary Ballets Russes, it blends colorful fairground spectacle with a surprisingly moving heart. It is a showcase role for a dancer who can act as much as dance.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Igor Stravinsky
- Choreographer
- Michel Fokine
- Premiere
- 1911, Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
- Structure
- Four scenes
- Running time
- About 35 minutes
The story
At a bustling Russian fair, a magician brings three puppets to life: Petrushka, the Ballerina, and the Moor. Petrushka loves the Ballerina, but she prefers the Moor, and poor Petrushka is mocked and mistreated. After the Moor strikes Petrushka down, his ghost appears above the little theater, suggesting the puppet had a soul all along.
What Petrushka is famous for
- the tragic puppet hero
- Stravinsky's vivid fairground score
- its Ballets Russes origins
- a great dramatic role for the lead
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Petrushka?
Petrushka is a straw-and-sawdust puppet who comes to life and turns out to have real human feelings, which makes his mistreatment genuinely sad.
Who created Petrushka?
It was created for the Ballets Russes with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Michel Fokine.
Is Petrushka a sad ballet?
It has plenty of color and comedy at the fair, but at its heart it is a poignant story about a mistreated puppet with a soul.
Who composed Petrushka?
Petrushka was composed by Igor Stravinsky.
How long is Petrushka?
Petrushka runs about 35 minutes.