Igor Stravinsky

Igor Fyodorovitch Stravinsky (Russian: {{lang|ru|????? ????????? ???????????}}) (June 17, 1882 – April 6, 1971) was a Russian-American composer of modern classical music. He composed in the neo-classical and serialist styles, but he is best known for two works from his earlier, Russian period: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) and L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird). For some, these daring and innovative ballets practically reinvented the genre. Stravinsky also wrote in a broad spectrum of ensemble combinations and classical forms. His oeuvre included everything from symphonies to piano miniatures.

Related Topics:
Russian - June 17 - 1882 - April 6 - 1971 - Russian - American - Composer - Modern classical music - Neo-classical - Serialist - Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) - L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird) - Ballet - Piano

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Stravinsky also achieved fame as a pianist and conductor, often at the premieres of his own works. He was also a writer. With the help of Alexis Roland-Manuel, Stravinsky composed a theoretical work entitled Poetics of Music. In it, he famously claimed that music was incapable of "expressing anything but itself". Robert Craft transcribed several interviews with the composer, which were published as Conversations with Stravinsky.

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A quintessentially cosmopolitan Russian, Stravinsky was one of the most authoritative composers and artists of 20th century music, both in the West and in his native land. He was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of the century. Stravinsky has also been criticised for his support of Mussolini and Fascism during the 1930's.

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Cosmopolitan - Russia - 20th century - West - Time magazine - Mussolini - Fascism

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