Stravinsky: The Firebird & Fireworks

Featuring

Gerard Schwarz
Seattle Symphony
Igor Stravinsky

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Composer Biography

Igor Stravinsky, the composer, was born into a musical family; his father, Feodor Stravinsky, was a celebrated opera singer.

Composition History

Sergey Dyagilev, an art critic and founder of the Ballets russes, discovered Stravinsky after hearing his piece Fireworks and commissioned him for a new ballet.

Compositional Technique

The Firebird established Stravinsky's musical foundation, showcasing his characteristic melodic idiom, asymmetrical rhythms, and bold orchestration, which he further developed in later ballets like Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Composition History

Stravinsky's early training included lessons with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, an esteemed Russian composer known for his knowledge of orchestration.

Performer Biography

Gerard Schwarz, the conductor on this album, recently completed 26 years as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony and has received numerous awards, including two Emmy Awards and 13 GRAMMY nominations.

Cultural Impact

The Firebird's success in Paris in June 1910 launched Stravinsky from obscurity to celebrity and began a long partnership with Sergey Dyagilev and the Ballets russes.