Stravinsky's Concerto in E flat, also known as Dumbarton Oaks, was commissioned by Mr and Mrs Robert Woods Bliss to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary.
Composition History
Stravinsky's first significant success came when the impresario Dyagilev, a distant relative, commissioned the ballet The Firebird, first performed in Paris in 1910.
Cultural Impact
In later years, the music of The Rite of Spring ballet strongly influenced 20th-century music, though Nijinsky's original choreography proved less durable.
Performer Biography
Gerard Schwarz, the conductor, recently completed 26 acclaimed years as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony and has received hundreds of honors, including two Emmy Awards and 13 GRAMMY nominations.
Composer Biography
Igor Stravinsky, the composer, was the son of a distinguished bass soloist at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, who created important roles in new operas by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.
Critical Reception
The first public performance of The Rite of Spring in Paris in 1913 caused an uproar, with audience members taking sides for or against the piece, resulting in a succès de scandale.
Recording & Production
The Seattle Symphony has gained international prominence with over 140 recordings, 12 GRAMMY nominations, and two Emmys.
