Rebirth and New Dimensions of Music

Igor Stravinsky

Born 1882 in St. Petersburg RussiaThe son of an opera

singerHours in the opera

house gave birth to his love of music

Stravinsky studied Law at the university at St. Petersburg

After the death of his father Igor felt a sense of freedom to pursue his love of music.

Musical training with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov believed music that did not follow the rules was “Bad Music.” Stravinsky felt that breaking the rules brought freshness and freedom to music.

Igor married his cousin Catherine and had four children

Serge Diaghilev of Ballet Russe and Igor Stravinsky

Stravinsky composed ballet music and the story for the ballet from Russian folktales for Diaghilev.

Diaghilev's villa “Belerive” Left to right: the dancer Leonid Massine, artist-designer Natalia Gontcharova, composer Igor Stravinsky, seated, artist-designers Mikhail Larionov, and Leon Bakst.

July 1915

The Firebird thrilled the audience with its “colourful fairytale plumage”

The Firebird was the first ballet

Russia was his inspiration

Stravinsky based the ballet on Russian history

Petrushka was a Russian Marionette

Stravinsky with Vaslav Nijinsky who played Petrushka in the ballet

Violence of War

W.W. I and the Rite of SpringViolence of Spring breaking free of Winter

Original costume design

After the death of his wife he moved to the United States.

The move to the US brought a new life, new love, and new music.

Stravinsky,Schoenberg and Serialism

Disney, Stravinsky, and more music!

Buried in Venice on the island of San Michele near his friend Sergei Diaghilev

Died April 6, 1971