Colorado Symphony Blog

Some stories are so good they deserve to be told again and again. The Firebird is one of them and for good reason.

Rooted in Russian folklore and brought to life through Igor Stravinsky’s timeless score, The Firebird has captivated audiences for generations. Its story of a magical bird, an enchanted world, and the battle between good and evil has inspired countless interpretations across music and dance. But when the Colorado Symphony and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance join forces October 23–25 at Boettcher Concert Hall, they’ll bring their own energy and imagination to this enduring classic.

These two iconic Denver arts organizations have a history of finding new ways to bring music and movement together. They first collaborated on Stravinsky’s The Firebird in 1997, with the legendary Marin Alsop conducting. More than 25 years later, they reunited for excerpts from the ballet during Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s 50th anniversary celebration at Boettcher Concert Hall in 2023. Now, they return to the complete work for the second time, bringing the magic of The Firebird to a new generation of audiences.

While The Firebird began with a particular folkloric tradition, its appeal has never been limited to one culture or artistic style. The story’s themes of transformation, freedom, and the natural world translate across cultures, from European interpretations to Hawaiian and Asian adaptations. Each new telling offers a different way to imagine the Firebird, a character whose magic comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms. For dancers, the role can be as distinctive as the artist who brings it to life.