Biography

Igor Stravinsky

Gender
Male
Nationality
Russian
Born
6/17/1882
Died
4/6/1971
Show Categories
Opera
Genres
Comedy

Igor Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882, in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), Russia, and raised in St. Petersburg. Though initially expected to study law like his father, a prominent opera singer, Stravinsky pursued music with private lessons before formally studying under the legendary Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This early mentorship helped lay the foundation for his distinctive voice, combining classical training with a desire to innovate and break conventions.

Stravinsky gained international fame with a trilogy of ballets commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes in Paris: The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913). The last of these caused a riot at its premiere due to its dissonant harmonies, jagged rhythms, and primitive subject matter—but it would go on to become one of the most groundbreaking works in music history. These early ballets established Stravinsky as a revolutionary force in modern music.

Throughout his long and prolific career, Stravinsky continuously reinvented his style. In the 1920s, he adopted a neoclassical approach, as seen in works like Pulcinella and Symphony of Psalms, drawing on forms and techniques of earlier eras with a modern sensibility. Later, after moving to the United States in 1939, he embraced twelve-tone serialism, inspired by the music of Arnold Schoenberg, further demonstrating his willingness to evolve and challenge himself creatively.

Stravinsky was not only a composer but also a pianist and conductor who often performed his own works around the world. His versatility extended across genres, including operas like The Rake’s Progress, sacred music, orchestral pieces, chamber works, and art songs. He was admired for his rhythmic innovation, clarity of form, and ability to distill powerful emotion through precise musical language.

Igor Stravinsky died on April 6, 1971, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy of fearless experimentation and artistic transformation. His influence can be felt across nearly every genre of 20th-century music, from concert halls to jazz and film scores. Stravinsky’s work continues to be celebrated for its inventiveness, emotional range, and its central role in reshaping the boundaries of classical music

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