Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971) The Rite of Spring Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Georg Solti, cond. 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, age 73, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: May 16);

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

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

• 1951 - Czech composer Josef Bohuslav Foerster, age 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 in D, at Steinway Hall, by the New York Symphony, Theodore Thomas conducting;

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