Igor Stravinsky

Biography

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, into a family with a strong artistic background. His father, Fyodor Stravinsky, was a well-known bass singer at the Mariinsky Theatre, giving young Igor early exposure to music and performance. Despite this musical upbringing, Stravinsky initially studied law at Saint Petersburg State University, following his parents' wishes for a more traditional career. However, meeting Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, one of Russia's top composers, changed his life. Rimsky-Korsakov became his mentor and teacher, recognizing Igor's exceptional musical talent and encouraging him to focus on composition.

Stravinsky's big break came when he worked with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, a dance company that aimed to transform ballet through fresh music, choreography, and visuals. His first major success, 'The Firebird' (1910), made him a prominent new figure in classical music. This was followed by 'Petrushka' (1911) and the revolutionary 'The Rite of Spring' (1913), which sparked a riot at its Paris premiere due to its radical changes to traditional harmony and rhythm. These early ballets showed Stravinsky's skill in merging Russian folk elements with modern techniques, creating a unique style that would inspire future musicians.

The Russian Revolution of 1917 forced Stravinsky to leave Russia permanently, changing both his life and his artistic path. He first moved to Switzerland and then to France, where he developed his neoclassical period, focusing on earlier musical forms and structures while maintaining a modern approach. Works like 'Pulcinella' (1920) and 'Symphony of Psalms' (1930) showed this new style. In 1940, he moved to the United States, eventually living in Hollywood, California, where he continued composing, conducting, and recording his works.

In his later years, Stravinsky's style changed again as he adopted twelve-tone serialism, a technique pioneered by Arnold Schoenberg. Despite initial reluctance, works like 'Agon' (1957) and 'Requiem Canticles' (1966) showed his willingness to explore new musical techniques even in his eighties. He married twice, first to his cousin Yekaterina Nosenko in 1906, with whom he had four children. After her death in 1939, he married Vera de Bosset in 1940. Stravinsky died on April 6, 1971, in New York City, leaving behind a body of work that transformed classical music.