The two ballets on this album, Stravinsky's "The Firebird" and "Apollo Musagète," span almost the entire existence of the legendary Ballets Russes, which operated from 1909 to 1929.
Historical Context
Serge de Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballets Russes, was initially rejected from studying composition at the St. Petersburg conservatory and was told his desire to compose was "absurd" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Composer Biography
Igor Stravinsky, the composer, developed a decades-long personal and professional friendship with choreographer George Balanchine, which significantly impacted ballet history.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Firebird aimed to introduce Russian art of the highest quality to the West, using figures from Russian myth and fairytale in a modern stage setting.
Cultural Impact
The Ballets Russes, under Serge de Diaghilev, revolutionized ballet by combining staging, choreography, and music in an unprecedented way, conquering France and then the Western world.
Performer Biography
Conductor Zoltán Peskó, born into a musical family in Budapest, studied composition and conducting with notable figures like Pierre Boulez and has held prestigious music director positions across Europe.
Recording & Production
The SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg has premiered approximately 400 compositions at the Donaueschingen Festival, making significant contributions to new music history.
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