Petrushka, a burlesque in four scenes, was completed in May 1911 and first staged in Paris a month later under the musical direction of Pierre Monteux. Stravinsky had at first considered a concert piece for piano and orchestra, with the former as an uncontrollable puppet, eventually defeated by the orchestra. Discussion with Dyagilev led to the composition, instead, of a ballet, based on the Russian puppet Petrushka, who here comes to life, to be killed by his rival for the hand of the Ballerina, the Blackamoor. Choreography was by Fokin and decor by Alexandre Benois, with Nijinsky in the title role. In 1947 Stravinsky re-scored the work for a smaller orchestra, with triple instead of quadruple woodwind and a single harp.
The opening scene shows the Shrovetide Fair in St. Petersburg. There are holiday crowds in Admiralty Square. On one side a man plays a hurdy-gurdy, the sound rivalled when another appears with a musical box. The Showman draws back the curtains of his puppet theatre to show Petrushka, the Ballerina and the Blackamoor, puppets that he brings to life with his flute. In the second scene, in his cell, Petrushka suffers at the cruelty of his master, hoping to find relief in the love of the Ballerina, who rejects him. The Blackamoor, however, succeeds in charming the Ballerina, but their dalliance is interrupted by the jealous appearance of Petrushka. Outside at the fair groups of revellers dance, the wet-nurses, followed by a peasant with a performing bear, the appearance of a drunken merchant, and a dance of the coachmen. From the puppet theatre a noise is heard, and Petrushka emerges, pursued by the Blackamoor, who kills his rival with his scimitar. The Showman reassures the crowd, showing them that Petrushka is only a puppet, but as night comes on and the people disperse, the ghost of Petrushka is seen above the booth, mocking them.