Petrushka: An Authoritative Score of the Original Version: Backgrounds, Analysis, Essays, Views & Comments

Petrouchka or Petrushka (French: Pétrouchka; Russian: ????????) is a ballet with music by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It's tells of a Russian traditional puppet, Petrushka, who is made of straw & with a bag of sawdust as his body, but who comes to life & develops emotions. The story superficially resembles that of Pinocchio, but perhaps has more in common with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. According to Andrew Wachtel, Petrushka is a work that fuses music, ballet, choreography & history in perfect balance. It resembles Richard Wagner's Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), but with a Russian approach. Brilliantly orchestrated, filled with Russian folksong as well as new & striking harmonies, this score is one the most popular & acclaimed musical works of the 20th century. General Note. Stage Directions. Instrumentation. All materials in English & French, newly translated for this edition.