Hunting in a forest, Price Ivan finds an enchanted garden with a tree of Golden Apples. A Bird of Fire appears and the Prince captures her. When he decides to free her, she rewards him with a magic feather to use in summoning her in time of danger.

 A procession of lovely maidens - princesses under the spell of the evil and immortal magician, Kostchei, enters the garden, and is joined by a Princess of higher rank. Ivan greets the maidens but is warned by the Princess that Kostchei turns all trespassers into monsters. The magician and his creatures suddenly come upon the scene before Ivan and the Princess, with whom he has fallen in love, can make their escape. But Ivan summons the Firebird, who vanquishes Kostchei with her stronger spell.