Fairytales have been an endless source of inspiration for Russian composers. Sofia Gubaidulina based her Fairytale Poem on a fairytale by the Czech writer Mazourek. Borodin, meanwhile, was inspired by the epic tale of Prince Igor’s campaign for his famous Polovtsian Dances, a commission from Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes. The medieval poem comes to life again in his superbly orchestrated folk songs. Diaghilev (yes, him again) also approached the young Stravinsky to write the music for the fantastic tale of the mythical Firebird. The ballet premiere was a huge success, securing the composer’s reputation as a revolutionary artist in Paris, where he became a figurehead of 20th-century modernism. A magical start to the day with the Antwerp Symphony!