Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), is best known for his ground-breaking and hugely influential music for ballet. Indeed, 'The Rite of Spring' or 'Le Sacre du Printemps' is perhaps the best example of Stravinsky's challenging and provocative interpretation of the 'Brave New World'.
'The Rite' was premiered in the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris (1913), and it all started well as a seemingly innocent bassoon melody floated out from the orchestral pit. What was to follow, however, was to shock and enrage the unprepared Parisian audience: pagan content, ritual sacrifice, wild choreography, savage and hugely unconventional music. This moment is a milestone in music history, and heralded (along with Schoenberg) a transformation in music: whilst once thought of as horrific, Stravinsky's music is now admired and is still perpetually influential.
Stravinsky looks back in a post-modern and ironic sense at the traditions in musical history, and, by way of disappating formal traditions, refreshes the musical language. In 'The Rite of Spring' and 'Petrouchka' (as with most of his work), Stravinsky made knowing and ironic glances into the past, re-working the ideas, taking on influences from jazz and folk (amongst other things), whilst still maintaining a broadly tonal musical language.
This recording (Cleveland Orchestra 1968: Sony SMK64109) isn't the best I've heard (perhaps also try Leonard Bernstein's 1992 Sony recording). Either way, it is definitely worth listening to. Better still, go and see the whole thing performed live!
I'll leave you with a quote by Stravinsky to ponder upon:
"Music, by its very nature is powerless to express emotions at all."
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