Igor Stravinsky June 17, April 6, 1971 Raised in St. Petersburg Father was an operatic bass Studied piano and composition as a child Parents expect him to become a lawyer Lessons with Rimsky-Korsakov Also, married cousin this year (Katerina) –Two children

Igor Stravinsky June 17, April 6, Working relationship with Serge Diaghilev –Commissioned arrangements for Ballet Russe –After success, new ballets commissioned: Firebird (1910) Petrushka (1911) Rite of Spring (1913) 1910-Traveled for Firebird premier and relocated to Switzerland, and then Paris –At this time, wife sick with tuberculosis –Effected Stravinsky and daughter as well

Igor Stravinsky June 17, April 6, ’s- Living in Paris –Katerina, Ludmilla (daughter) passed –Sick Marriage to mistress Vera de Bosset (since 1921) Moved to United States after onset of WW2 –Naturalized citizen 1946 Settled in Los Angeles area –Relationship with other artistic refugees –Relationship with Robert Craft

Igor Stravinsky June 17, April 6, 1971 Died New York City, 1882 Star of the Walk of Fame Posthumous Grammy for Lifetime Achievement Collaborated with Picasso, Cocteau, Balanchine Rumored affair with Coco Chanel. Three Stylistic Periods: The Russian Period The Neo-Classical Period The Serial Period

Firebird 1910 ballet composed for Ballet Russe –First original score for Ballet Russe Choreographed by Michel Fokine Story Ballet score different from concert “Suites” which are most often performed Established Stravinsky as a famous composer

Rite of Spring Premiered May 29, 1913 at the Théâtre des Champs- Élysées, Paris. Choreography by Vaslav Nijinski –Stravinsky and Nijinski did not work well Depicts Pagan Russia’s selection of the girl whom they will sacrifice to the God of Spring, and the praising of said God. (Act 1) The sacrifice dances herself to death before the eyes of the rest of the Pagan community.

Rite of Spring Dancing –Sharp bodily bends –Focus on pelvis –Body curved inward, and down –Heavy steps Many unorthodox treatment of musical elements: –Instrumental range –Harmony –Rhythm

Rite of Spring Content, dancing, and music, all focusing on the grotesque, combined with a heightened political atmosphere and focus on scandale: –Rioting! –Booing from initial bassoon solo (‘misuse’) growing with added complication of harmony –Arguments between supporters and objectors resulted in fistfights –Police had arrived by intermission