Stravinsky's 'Riot' of Spring?

Synopsis

Today’s date marks the anniversary of one of the most famous — and notorious — premieres in the history of classical music, that of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), in Paris on May 29, 1913.

From its first note — sounded by the bassoon at the extreme end of its highest register — Stravinsky’s score signaled the start of something radically different. It’s also remembered as the occasion of one of the most emotional reactions by any audience: catcalls and insults were hurled between the composer’s supporters and detractors, fistfights broke out and finally the police were called.

There were those, including Pierre Monteux, the conductor of the premiere, who felt the reactions were occasioned more by the dancing and the stage picture than by the music itself.

Years later, when Monteux was asked what he thought of the original production, he confessed to everyone’s amusement that he actually never saw it, because his eyes were glued to the score. “On hearing this near riot behind me, I decided to keep the orchestra together at any cost … I did, and we played it to the end absolutely as we had rehearsed it in the peace of an empty theatre,” he wrote.

Music Played in Today's Program

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): The Rite of Spring; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Georg Solti, conductor; London 436 469

On This Day

Births

• 1860 - Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz, in Camprodón

• 1873 - Estonian composer Rudolf Tobias, in Kaina on Haiiumaa Island

• 1897 - Austrian composer Eric Wolfgang Korngold, in Brno

• 1922 - Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, in Braila, Roumania

• 1948 - English composer Michael Berkley, in London; He is the son of English composer, Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-89)

Deaths

• 1910 - Russian composer Mily Balakirev, 73, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: May 16)

• 1911 - British lyricist Sir William S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame), 74, from a heart attack after rescuing a drowning woman, at Harrow Weald, England

• 1935 - Czech composer Josef Suk, 61, in Benesov

• 1951 - Czech composer Josef Bohuslav Foerster, 91, in Vestec, near Stará Boleslav

Premieres

• 1901 - Paderewski: Manru, in Dresden. Also staged at the Metropolitan Opera in 1902.

• 1905 - Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 (Divine Poem), in Paris, Arthur Nikisch conducting

• 1913 - Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), in Paris, by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting

• 1954 - Cowell: Symphony No. 11 (Seven Rituals), by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert S. Whitney conducting

• 1970 - Rautavaara: Piano Concerto, in Helsinki, with composer as soloist, and the Finnish Radio Symphony, Paavo Berglund conducting

Others

• 1873 - American premiere of Brahms's Serenade No. 1, at Steinway Hall, by the New York Symphony, Theodore Thomas conducting

• 1963 - The New York Philharmonic Promenade concert series is inaugurated.