Petrushka is renowned as one of Stravinsky's three great ballets, alongside the ballet music The Firebird and The Rite of Spring. The original work was composed in 1911 for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. It was later arranged and re-orchestrated as the piano solo piece Three Movements from Petrushka (1921). Some performers add their own arrangements or even transcribe all four scenes to be playable, in line with the orchestral version.

This piano version was composed at the request of the renowned virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein. Composed under the condition that it be "more difficult than any piece before," it turned out to be a work of extreme difficulty. Although Rubinstein included this piece in his repertoire, he was not satisfied with its perfection and did not allow any recordings to be made.

It is a captivating work with a powerful impact, featuring unique melodies using the whole-tone scale, bitonality, sharp and vibrant rhythms, shocking dissonances, and rapidly changing musical ideas.

Petrushka is said to reflect the image of Russian peasants of that era.

I. Russian Dance (First Tableau)

Amidst a lively festival atmosphere, three puppets (Petrushka, a Ballerina, and a boisterous Moor) are brought to life by a Magician. To the music, the puppets begin to dance vigorously. From the outset, it creates a powerful impression with rapid successions of parallel chords played solely on white keys.

II. Petrushka's Room (Second Tableau)

Kicked by the Magician, the scene shifts to Petrushka's room. He is treated terribly by the Magician and ignored by the Ballerina he loves. Petrushka, possessing a human heart, laments and accumulates frustration. The grotesquely moving melodies with bitonality are captivating. This movement also features prominent piano parts in the original work, and the piano part is transferred almost exactly as it was.

III. The Shrovetide Fair (Fourth Tableau)

In the third tableau, Petrushka confronts his rival, the Moor, but is instead overwhelmed and killed by him. To the agitated audience, the Magician explains that Petrushka is merely a puppet. However, after the crowd disperses and darkness falls, the ghost of Petrushka appears, his face contorted with rage. The Magician, terrified, flees.

In addition to the piano solo version, there are also arrangements for piano duet and two pianos.