Unlike traditional versions of this magical ballet which are usually staged in Slavic settings, Cleo Parker Robinson’s lush and innovative interpretation is set in the Hawaiian Islands, with the Firebird being an incarnation of Pele, the Goddess of the Volcano. Historic figures from Hawaiian history – including King Kamehameha and Queen Lili’uokalani – appear as characters in the piece, along with many of the traditional gods and goddesses of Hawaiian culture.
