Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - photo 1
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - photo 2
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - photo 3
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - photo 4

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Lot 67
11.12.2024 14:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 126 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1349707
Lot 67 | Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Estimate value
£ 70 000 – 100 000
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Autograph manuscript signed (at end, 'Igor Stravinsky'),The Firebird (L'oiseau de feu), Suite for small orchestra ('Instrumenté pour petit orchestre'), the last 14 bars of the 'Berceuse' and the complete 'Final', [Morges], 31 March 1915
Full score, notated in black ink in 12 to 21 staves, 12 pages, 340 x 255mm, paginated 1-12 in lead and blue pencil, calligraphic title for the 'Final' in Russian and English, decorated with a small drawing in red and black ink, numerous erasures and emendations in pen and pencil, rehearsal markings added in purple crayon, further markings in red crayon. Stitched into an album, green leather. Provenance: [presumably Sergei Diaghilev (1872-1929), and given by him to: –] Serge Lifar (1905-1986: stamps on first and last leaves) – his sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, Monaco, 28 November 1975, lot 459 (FrF 97,000), bought by – Musikantiquariat Hans Schneider, Tutzing.

A reworking for small orchestra of Stravinsky's first masterpiece. The premiere of The Firebird by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris on 25 June 1910 was a turning point in musical history and made Stravinsky an overnight sensation. The original score was for a large orchestra – in fact, Stravinsky was later to describe it as 'wastefully large', whilst characteristically adding 'but I was more proud of some of the orchestration than of the music itself' (Stravinsky & Craft 1962, p. 131). Stravinsky published three suites for concert performance, in 1911, 1919 and 1945: the present version for 'small orchestra' (notably lighter in its use of percussion) was presumably for one of the performances programmed by Diaghilev in 1915, most likely the charity concert for the Red Cross in Geneva at which Stravinsky made his conducting debut with the work.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
11.12.2024 – 11.12.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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