1. Stravinsky and Modernism
Russian nationalism, primitivism, and cubism

2. Origin of Russian Modern Art
Centers on the estate of Savva Mamontov near Moscow
Represents a challenge to the Petersburg Academy of Art
Focus on Russian national heritage:
Scythian civilization
Medieval icons
National peasant art & costumes
Mamontov’s “Private Opera” in Moscow reflects this aesthetic
[Source: Watkins Soundings p. 197=8]

3. Russian Themes at Mamontov’s “Private Opera”
Viktor Vasnetsov’s set design for Rimsky-Korsakov’s Snow Maiden

4. Other famous musicians and the “Private Opera”
Sergei Rachmaninov assistant conductor (1897)
Produced Russian Themed Operas:
A Life for the Tsar by Mikhail Glinka
The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov
Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky
[start at 0’ 52”]
Also Coronation Scene

5. Pagan ritual Found in Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera May Night
Based on a Gogol short story of peasant life in the Ukraine.
Rimsky-Korsakov said “I managed to connect … that ceremonial side of folk-life which gives expression to the survivals from ancient paganism.”
Stravinsky studies with Rimsky-Korsakov thus connecting him directly to the aesthetic of the Mamontov group
This connection helps us see why Stravinsky reacts so positively to the stories in his three big Russian-themed ballets
[Source: Watkins Soundings pp ]

6. Stravinsky’s three early ballets
Firebird (1910)
Petrushka (1911)
The Rite of Spring (1913)
Written for Diaghilev’s Ballets russes

7. Firebird (1910) Mixture of themes from:
Russian folklore
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
And other sources
Diaghilev had discussed the idea for a ballet on this theme before he met Stravinsky, in 1909.
[Source: Watkins Soundings p. 201]

8. Two Costume designs for Firebird by Léon Bakst (a designer for the Ballets russes)

9. Video of The Firebird The Firebird Ending
Final Scene; start at 4’ 30” to end
STORY: Prince Ivan enters the magic realm of Kashchei the Immortal. Ivan sees, chases and catches the Firebird. The Firebird agrees to help Ivan in exchange for his eventual freedom.
Prince Ivan see 13 beautiful princesses and falls in love with one. He confronts Kashchei, asking to marry the princess. They quarrel and Kashchei sends magic creatures after him. The Firebird intervenes on Ivan’s behalf, causing the creatures and Kashchei to fall asleep.
The Firebird tells Ivan that Kashcheis immortal soul is inside an egg. Ivan finds and destroys the egg. This destroys the evil creatures and awakens the princesses.
The picture is of Felia Doubrovska in costume. She joined the Ballet russes around 1920.

10. Petrushka set designer and co-libretist Alexandre Benois

11. Petrushka story Russian equivalent of Harlequin Four Scenes
First: peasant festival scene we meet the three characters: Petrushka, the Ballerina, and the Moor. They are brought to life by the Showman.
Second: inside Petrushka’s room; he tries to show the Ballerina he loves her; she runs away.
Third: inside the Moor’s room. The Ballerina enters and tries to seduce him. Petrushka escapes his room, trying to intervene. The Moor chases Petrushka out.
Fourth: Back at the Carnival, Petushka is killed by the Moor. Petrushka’s ghost appears, scaring the Showman.

12. Videos of Petrushka Bolshoi Film Version (First Tableau)
start about 6’ 00”
Bolshoi Film Version (Second Tableau)
Start at beginning
Petrushka chord
Bolshoi Film Version (Third Tableau & beginning of Fourth)
Bolshoi Film Version (end of Fourth Tableau)

13. Le sacre du printemps (1913)
Subtitled: “scenes of pagan Russia”
Scenario by Stravinsky and Nikolay Roerich
Choreographed by Nijinsky
Written for Diaghilev’s Ballet russes
Shows the influence of Russian nationalist themes and cubism
Primitivism common descriptor of The Rite of Spring and Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon

14. Shows traits of primitivism (African masks)
Often discussed as leading to Cubism
Figure PABLO PICASSO, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, June–July Oil on canvas, 8’ x 7’ 8”. Museum of Modern Art, New York (acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest).

15. Roerich Costume Designs Influenced by Russian National Themes

16. Roerich’s set designs

17. Matisse The Dance (1909) at MOMA Bloomsbury Guide to Art: Matisse following of primitivism to its logical conclusion

18. Matisse The Dance (1910) at The Hermitage Museum

19. John Cocteau’s “The Rite of Spring” Watkins notes the “cubist” poses (Soundings p. 215)

20. Figure 33-10 GEORGES BRAQUE, The Portuguese, 1911
Figure GEORGES BRAQUE, The Portuguese, Oil on canvas, 3’ 10 1/8” x 2’ 8”. Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel, Kunstmuseum, Basel (gift of Raoul La Roche, 1952).

21. Figure 33-11 ROBERT DELAUNAY, Champs de Mars or The Red Tower, 1911
Figure ROBERT DELAUNAY, Champs de Mars or The Red Tower, Oil on canvas, 5’ 3” x 4’ 3”. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

22. Figure 33-14 PABLO PICASSO, Maquette for Guitar, 1912
Figure PABLO PICASSO, Maquette for Guitar, Cardboard, string, and wire (restored), 25 1/4” x 13” x 7 1/2”. Museum of Modern Art, New York.

23. Albert Gleizes Portrait of Stravinsky (1914)

24. The premiere of The Rite of Spring was a who’s who of the art world
Attendees at the premiere included:
- Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, John Cocteau, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein, Puccini, Picasso, etc…

25. Videos of The Rite of Spring
Dramatization of the Premiere
Version with choreography of Maurice Béjart
‘59 Version by Maurice Béjart filmed 1970
Boulez discussing The Rite of Spring

26. Other Stravinsky Videos
L’Histoire du Soldat (1918)
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conducting
Music starts at 11’ 40”
Tango is at 54’ 05”
Les Noces (1922)
Royal Ballet