Ballet
The Stone Flower
This was Prokofiev's last ballet, and it is built on Russian folk tales from the Ural mountains. Grigorovich made his name with the 1957 version, and that is the one companies still dance today. If you like a ballet with a bit of magic, a craftsman hero, and a shape-shifting mountain spirit, this is your kind of night.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Sergei Prokofiev
- Choreographer
- Several versions exist; Yuri Grigorovich's 1957 staging is the standard one
- Premiere
- 1957, Kirov Theatre, Leningrad (Grigorovich version)
- Structure
- Three acts
- Running time
- approx 2 hours
The story
Based on the Ural folk tales of Pavel Bazhov, the ballet follows Danila, a young stonecutter obsessed with carving a perfect flower from malachite. He is drawn into the realm of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, who tests him, while his betrothed Katerina searches for him and fends off the greedy bailiff Severyan. It blends folk dance, fantasy, and love story across its three acts.
What The Stone Flower is famous for
- Being Prokofiev's final ballet score
- Launching Yuri Grigorovich's choreographic career
- The character of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain
- Its Ural folk-tale source material
Companies that perform The Stone Flower
The Stone Flower is in the repertoire of companies including Bolshoi Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed The Stone Flower?
Sergei Prokofiev. It was the last ballet he composed.
Which version is the famous one?
Yuri Grigorovich's staging, which premiered in 1957 at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad and effectively launched his career.
What is the story based on?
The Ural folk tales collected by Pavel Bazhov, centered on a stonecutter and the Mistress of the Copper Mountain.
Who composed The Stone Flower?
The Stone Flower was composed by Sergei Prokofiev.
How long is The Stone Flower?
The Stone Flower runs approx 2 hours.