Download Event Program - School of Music - University of Arizona

nIgor Stravinsky(1882-1971)Igor Stravinsky is widely regarded as the most original and influential composer of the 20th century. He studiedwith Rimsky Korsakov in St. Petersburg from 1905 to 1908. After hearing his early works, Sergei Diaghilev, founderof the Ballets Russes, commissioned The Firebird. The success of this ballet paved the way for further collaborations,including Petroushka and The Rite of Spring. These works not only made Stravinsky a notorious and well-knowncomposer, but also allowed him to move from a nationalist style towards his signature vibrant modernism.The wartime period brought a radical experimental phase. Economic conditions prompted smaller-scale theatricalventures, such as The Soldier’s Tale. Pulcinella launched Stravinsky’s Neo-Classical phase, which dominated his workfor two decades. Major works from this period included Oedipus Rex, Symphony of Psalms and The Rake’s Progress.At the outbreak of the Second World War, Stravinsky moved to the United States, settling in Southern California.His ballet Agon was a watershed for his late serial compositions, including Requiem Canticles. Despite Stravinsky’svaried approaches, the hallmarks of his style remained consistent, often characterized by Russian folk inflections,rhythmic energy and orchestral virtuosity. His ballet scores are among the most significant musical monumentsof the past century.Igor Stravinsky playing the Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, Palais de Beaux-Arts in Brussels, 14 December 1930By Hilda Wiener (1877-1940) – Pencil on paper, signed by the performer- 2 -