Stravinsky himself arranged the piano duet version of "The Rite of Spring" featured on this album, which was released six days before the ballet's premiere.
Compositional Technique
"The Rite of Spring" is considered the first work in recent musical history where rhythm dominates over melody, featuring new chord combinations and complex rhythmic structures.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Stravinsky conceived "The Rite of Spring" from a vision of a great heathen celebration, with wise old men watching a young girl's sacrificial death to appease the god of spring.
Composer Biography
Igor Stravinsky, the composer, wrote relatively little piano music due to his objective artistic approach, which mistrusted the piano as an instrument for subjective romantic self-expression.
Composition History
Igor Stravinsky, the composer, began working on "The Rite of Spring" in 1911 and completed it in 1913, a year before the First World War.
Performer Biography
Sivan Silver and Gil Garburg, the piano duo on this album, perform in approximately 70 countries on five continents and have played in venues like Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.
Critical Reception
The premiere of "The Rite of Spring" on May 29, 1913, caused a scandal with laughter, whistles, boos, and an uproar that led to 27 reported injuries.
