Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky was born in 1882 in Orenienbaum and from a young age he was interested in music, especially the genius and musical tradition of his homeland. This was mainly due to his father, a soloist at the St. Petersburg Opera.
In 1903, he began studying composition with Rimsky-Korsakov, and six years later, thanks to Sergei Diaghilev, who commissioned him to write ballets for the 'Russian Ballets', he became famous. In 1910, 'The Firebird' was created, in which the influence of Stravinsky's teacher can be heard, however, one can also hear some characteristics that would later characterize this composer, such as his sharp sense of rhythm and instrumental diversity.
In 1913, it was time for his great work, a work whose premiere marked the beginning of contemporary music, which through its sharp rhythms and aggressive instrumentation caused a scandal among listeners. This, of course, refers to 'The Rite of Spring' written for Diaghilev, a ballet that through its rhythm, harmony, and color became one of the most revolutionary works in the history of classical music.
Another work that Stravinsky wrote for the 'Russian Ballets' was 'Les Noces', in which this composer interestingly juxtaposed four pianos with percussion and vocal accompaniment. 'Les Noces' and 'The Rite of Spring' are excellent examples of the influence of the Russian national school.
However, Stravinsky's style changes dramatically with the composition of the next ballet 'Pulcinella', in which the influence of Baroque music, especially Pergolesi, can be heard. The premiere of this work took place in Paris in collaboration with Picasso and Massine. This work marked the beginning of the neoclassical stage in the work of this artist, in which he returned to his old style and to the composers he admired. In 'Oedipus Rex', one can hear Handel, in 'The Fairy's Kiss' Tchaikovsky, in the Symphony in C major Haydn, and in the Concerto in D major for string orchestra Bach.
The ballet 'Agon' opened a new stage in Stravinsky's work, who at this time became interested in dodecaphonic music, defined by his competitor Arnold Schoenberg. In this style, he also wrote 'Canticum Sacrum', 'Threni', and 'Movements' for piano and orchestra. The composer was also interested in serialism derived from dodecaphony.
He died in 1971 in the United States, where he had been since 1940. He was buried in Venice.