Stravinsky: Petrushka, Dance Russe, solo guitar by Tim Sparks

Tim Sparks plays his solo guitar version of the Dance Russe from the Ballet Petrushka, by Igor Stravinsky. Stravinsky composed the music during the winter of 1910--11 for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. It was premièred in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 13 June 1911. The title role was danced by Vaslav Nijinsky. The work is characterized by the so-called Petrushka chord (consisting of C major and F♯ major triads played together), a bitonality device heralding the appearance of the main character.