- The first performance of The Rite of Spring took place at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on May 29, 1913. Pierre Monteux was the conductor. The Ballets Russes performed the ballet and the choreographer was Vaslav Nijinsky.1
- Nijinsky had recently choreographed Debussy’s Jeux and Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. As a matter of fact, the public was not thrilled with Nijinsky’s recent work on Jeux, which boded poorly for the premiere of Rite.2
- It should be noted that the infamous riot that took place at the premiere may have had less to do with Stravinsky’s music (which was actually hard to hear under all the rioting) than with the show’s violent, scandalous choreography. (It is about ritual human sacrifice, after all.)
- You see a photo of the original costumes here, and an illustration here.
- Short synopsis
- Visit this page for a full list of movements.
Sources
- “The Rite of Spring (Stravinsky, Igor),” IMSLP, accessed April 16, 2021, https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_Spring_(Stravinsky,_Igor).
- Stephen Walsh, “Stravinsky, Igor,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed April 16, 2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000052818.
Cut IDs
15274 19275 22401 22885 41123 45272 45792 46129