Flight of the Bumblebee

The piece is recognizable for its frantic pace when played up to tempo, with nearly uninterrupted runs of chromatic sixteenth notes. This rapidity, measured at 144 beats per minute, evokes the skittish and frenetic activity of a bumblebee.

Because of the music's speed and complexity, it requires a great deal of skill to perform and is often chosen by musicians wishing to showcase their ability.

Within the opera

The piece closes act 3, tableau 1, during which the magic Swan-Bird changes Prince Gvidon Saltanovich into an insect so that he can fly away to visit his father, the tsar.

Following is the text of the scene where the Swan-Bird sings during this music:

Russian
(Гвидон спускается с берега в море.
Из моря вылетает шмель,
кружась около Лебедь-Птицы.)
Лебедь-Птица:
Ну, теперь, мой шмель, гуляй,
судно в море догоняй,
потихоньку опускайся,
в щель подальше забивайся.
Будь здоров, Гвидон, лети,
только долго не гости!
(Шмель улетает.)

(Gvidon goes down from the shore into the sea.
Out from the sea flies a bumblebee,
whirling around the Swan-Bird.)
Swan-Bird:
Well, now, my bumblebee, go on a spree,
catch up with the ship on the sea,
go down secretly,
get deep into a crack.
Good luck, Gvidon, fly,
only do not stay long!
(The bumblebee flies away.)