Igor Strawinsky

Igor Stravinsky is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century and a defining figure of musical modernism. Born in Russia, he initially studied law before devoting himself fully to music. A decisive step in his artistic development was his apprenticeship with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Stravinsky achieved international fame through his ballets written for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, including The Firebird, Petrushka, and above all The Rite of Spring, whose premiere became one of the most notorious scandals in music history. His works from this period introduced a new musical language marked by sharp rhythmic drive, bold orchestral colour, and a deliberately raw, elemental energy.

Throughout his career, Stravinsky reinvented himself several times. After his early Russian period, he entered a long neoclassical phase, drawing on clarity, balance, and formal models from earlier music while maintaining a distinctly modern voice. In his later years, he also explored serial techniques. This remarkable stylistic versatility is one of the reasons Stravinsky remains a central figure in twentieth-century music.

Living first in France and later in the United States, Stravinsky was active not only as a composer but also as a conductor and pianist. His output includes ballets, orchestral works, chamber music, and sacred compositions. To this day, he is celebrated as a composer who redefined rhythm and form, shaping the course of modern music.