Shelley Conducts Stravinsky's Firebird

Experience a journey like no other, from the exhilarating pace of John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine to the lush romanticism of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violin Concerto, brought to life by rising star, Aubree Oliverson. After intermission, be transported to a magical realm with Stravinsky’s The Firebird, presented in its complete brilliance, filled with vibrant colors, rhythmic energy, and lush harmonies. And on the big screen above the orchestra, Fowler Amusement has created a stunning, full-length animation to amplify the drama and enchantment of this iconic score.

Preview Talk at 7 p.m. with KUSC midday host Alan Chapman.

Meet the Artist: Aubree Oliverson will be available for a Meet & Greet in the Box Circle level during intermission, Friday night only.

About the Animation:  "For the look of the Firebird projected media, we drew inspiration from theater, dance, and classic illustrations of NC Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, and Howard Pyle from the early 20th century, among others. Our cinema influences include the greats of early cinema, as well as Zefferelli, Miyazaki et al." (Fowler Amusement)

Pacific Symphony is pleased to have collaborated with the talented team at Fowler Amusement who created the visual piece for The Firebird.

The artistic production of visual animation for The Firebird was animated and crafted by a dedicated team of animation artists at Fowler Amusement. Over a dozen animators and technicians contributed to the project, working collaboratively to bring The Firebird to life.

The primary technique employed was animation, a similar style to that seen in feature films such as Toy Story and Frozen. Fowler Amusement leveraged cutting-edge gaming technology, most notably Unreal Engine, to support efficiency and visual precision.

The creative process began with hand-drawn sketches of character designs and conceptual backgrounds, which were developed into computer-generated assets. In addition to animation, motion capture was used to track live performers’ movements – specifically that of a choreographer and professional ballet dancer to ensure the original movements of the The Firebird performance were incorporated.