Russian composer Igor Stravinsky wrote "The Firebird" for a 1910 Paris ballet at the age of 27.

In 1909 Sergei Diaghilev began planning a new ballet in Paris: The Firebird. After approaching three established Russian composers and being turned down, Diaghilev turned to a young, relatively untested composer who had orchestrated two pieces for a ballet the previous year.

Igor Stravinsky signed on and began working directly with the ballet's choreographer who believed that the music should be written to fit the dancing. The plot would feature the most famous characters from a half-dozen Russian fairytales, including the Firebird, Prince Ivan-Tsarevich, thirteen dancing princesses, and the evil sorcerer-king Kashchey the Deathless.

The original score for the ballet clocked in at 50 minutes. Stravinsky subsequently arranged three shorter suites for concert performances: 1911, 1919, and 1945.

We feature the 1919 suite here. It consists of five parts:
- Introduction — The Firebird and Its Dance — The Firebird's Variation
- The Princesses' Khorovod (Rondo, round dance)
- Infernal Dance of King Kashchei
- Berceuse (Lullaby)
- Finale

As the Finale begins around the 17:39 mark, you will begin to hear the orchestration and melodies that make up the news theme.

Igor Stravinsky died in 1971 at the age of 88.