Composers Corner

Igor Stravinsky

Stravinsky began composing in his youth, and at the age of 20 he submitted his work to the famous Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, with whom he studied for three years. His work attracted the notice of ballet impressario Serge Diaghilev, who commissioned him to score the ballet L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), produced in Paris in 1910. This launched Stravinsky's career and he went on to score another ballet Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) which premiered in 1913. He also composed such down to earth works such as the Circus Polka which was commissioned by Ringling Brothers Circus in 1942.

Stravinsky was a Russian-American who lived between 1882-1971.